New Citizens’ Panel to shape the future of the Kingston town centre area

The Mayor of London and central government have imposed housing targets of 964 homes per year on the borough. There is a statutory requirement for Kingston to meet this target. Many local people have told us they find it hard to afford a home in Kingston. Last summer you told us in the engagement for a new Local Plan that it's important to make sure new developments are of high quality and respect the character and heritage of our area. 

To help shape future development, we are asking local people to apply to join a Citizens’ Panel, who will help co-produce a plan for the Kingston town centre area, which will set the standards for new developments which are coming forward.

The Citizens' Panel will be selected so that it is demographically representative of the borough, bringing together a diverse range of people to discuss and understand the issues. You don’t need any prior knowledge to take part, just an interest in the borough and willingness to listen to the information presented and share your opinions. 

The panel will follow a new national best practice design process, which focuses on working with local people, to create a community-led vision and design guidance for their neighbourhood.  

Members of the panel will need to be available to take part in three half-day workshops during 2022 - on Saturday 12 March, Saturday 11 June and Saturday 15 October from 1.30pm-5.30pm. If you are selected to take part we will provide refreshments, cover your transport costs, and give you £150 in vouchers to thank you for your time.

Engagement with communities and stakeholders in Kingston are also likely to be necessary later in 2022 to ensure wider local input beyond the Panel members, to understand the aspects of local character that people value and what change should look like.

The first draft of the plan will then be shared for people’s views in early 2023. It will support the policies in the first draft of the new Local Plan, which is being published for consultation in summer 2022.  

Cllr Rebekah Moll, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Culture, said:

“Kingston Council has ambitious housing targets of 964 homes every year, set for us by the Mayor of London and central government. 

 

“We want to work with local people to guide the future of the town centre. Being part of the Citizens’ Panel is a fantastic opportunity to have your say about what Kingston looks like in the future. 

“We all want to look after the town’s unique history and heritage so we hope lots of people, from across the borough, will be interested in joining the Citizens’ Panel and taking part in this valuable process.”

The deadline to register your interest for the Citizen’s Panel is Monday 21 February. If selected you will be notified by Monday 28 February.

There may be additional walk-abouts of the town centre area which panel members can also join, if they wish, during the year.

For more information and to register your interest, please:

• Visit www.kingstonletstalk.co.uk/citizenspanel and complete the registration form
• Email placemaking@kingston.gov.uk 
• Call our contact centre on 020 8547 5000 and leave your number for a member of the Placemaking team to contact you.
• Post, please get in touch if you would like a paper copy of the form and a stamped addressed envelope