Residents living in a rural part of Kent will get the chance to vote on new rules for planning applications affecting their area later this year.

A local referendum on the Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan will take place on November 7.

The neighbourhood plan was designed by a planning group set up by the Hoo St Werburgh Parish Council and has undergone public consultation and evaluation by an independent examiner.

Some alterations were made following the check and a completed version was approved by Medway Council’s cabinet on August 27 to be sent for a referendum.

Residents within the 2740 hectacre area, which was defined in December 2018, will have a chance to vote on whether the new rules should apply to all future planning applications.

The question on the ballot paper will be “Do you want MEDWAY COUNCIL to use the Neighbourhood Plan for HOO ST WERBURGH & CHATTENDEN to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

Speaking about the plan, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration, Cllr Simon Curry (Lab) said: “I want to give huge thanks to the planning group within Hoo and Chattenden who’ve done such a great job to bring this forward, the parish council have worked really hard.

“The plan is really based around the principles of sustainable development, a sustainable economy, a sustainable community, and a sustainable environment, coming together to make a community really work.

“This is quite a briliant piece of work done by the community in partnership with the council, and it really does show what a unique and special place Hoo is and what can be done there going forward.

“It’s got its own character, its own special qualities and we really want to celebrate those and recognise them.”

A neighbourhood plan is a way of setting rules for developments, such as conditions around designs, the environment, and transportation in order to provide environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

The plan aims to manage growth so the various villages maintain their unique identities, create employment opportunities which meet the needs of the locals, and preserve and enhance historic and environmental assets of the area.

It includes rules which mean new developments will be in keeping with the existing housing by limiting sizes to predominantly two and three-storey buildings and must have traditional boundary treatments, including low flint or brick walls and hedges.

It also sets out developments must encourage social spaces and include public walkways which are suitable for all users.

Historic landmarks are also part of the considerations of the plan, such as the 12th century, Grade-I listed, Church of St Werburgh and the 11 Grade-II listed WWII pillboxes.

The area covers from Chattenden to as far west as beyond the Kingsnorth Power Station and almost 14,000 people live within its boundaries.

The referendum will take place on November 7 and, if approved by voters, the plan will be in effect on planning applications until 2040.