Canterbury Society Submits Response to the Draft Canterbury District Local Plan
The Canterbury Society has today (21st October 2025) submitted its full response to Canterbury City Council’s Draft Local Plan (Focused Consultation).
The submission welcomes areas of progress while raising serious concerns about infrastructure capacity, environmental protection, and the deliverability of the current growth proposals.
The response was prepared by Deputy Chair Guy Mayhew along with Acting Chair John Walker and Local Democracy Working Group Lead Martin Vye.
It draws on detailed member feedback, technical evidence, and collaboration with civic partners across the district.
Mr Mayhew said:
“We recognise the Council’s willingness to listen to community feedback – the removal of the Blean allocation (C12) shows that local voices can make a real difference.But the revised draft still relies on assumptions that aren’t properly evidenced. Infrastructure, water, and transport capacity must be proven before housing is built – not afterwards.”
The Society’s 60-page submission tests the draft Plan against national planning policy and calls for:
- A published Infrastructure Capacity Statement before the next consultation stage (Reg 19)
- Clear phasing so housing only proceeds once schools, health, transport and wastewater infrastructure are in place;
- A compact, brownfield-first strategy that protects the district’s landscape, heritage and biodiversity;
- A stronger focus on social rent housing, to reflect Canterbury’s acute affordability pressures; and
- Full transparency over transport modelling and water infrastructure, including independent feasibility testing of the proposed Broad Oak reservoir.
The response also raises concern about the proposed re-allocation of Thanington Recreation Ground (Policy N3), describing it as “a vital community park within one of the district’s most deprived neighbourhoods” and calling for its formal protection as part of Canterbury’s strategic green-space network.
Mr Vye added:
“The Society’s role is to provide constructive challenge. We want a Local Plan that genuinely meets local needs, protects the city’s unique character, and restores public confidence in the planning process.”
Mr Walker said:
“Canterbury deserves a Plan that looks forward – one built on evidence, not optimism and contains policies that make housing affordable for local people.We hope this consultation marks the start of a more open and collaborative phase, where civic, community and council voices can work together for the good of the district.”
Together, these organisations have presented a consistent, evidence-based case that calls for a more transparent, infrastructure-led approach to planning Canterbury’s future.
The full Canterbury Society submission is available to read here.