Monitoring information

Housing Land Supply Position

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council updates its housing land supply information annually. The most recent data shows the council's position as at 1 April 2024 for a five-year period to 31 March 2029. Following the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December 2024, the council is now required to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply with a 5% buffer. This supersedes the previous four-year supply requirement.

The Housing Land Supply Statement 2023/2024 below explains in detail the approach taken by the council in producing the latest Statement, including an explanation on both how the target has been calculated and all components that have contributed to the borough's housing land supply. However, this Statement (which was based on the four-year supply requirement) is now superseded by the Addendum available below.

The council's housing requirement is calculated using the ‘Standard Method’ which uses the 2014 Household Projections to calculate housing targets. Given that the council is partly through its emerging plan period (2020-2038), the council has had regard to any shortfall, or surplus, in delivery during the 2020-2024 period. The housing target of 678 dwellings per annum is in accordance with the council's emerging Plan's housing requirement.

As outlined within the Statement Addendum, as at 1 April 2024, the council can demonstrate a supply of 3.90 years over a five-year period which takes account of the shortfall in housing supply between 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2024, and includes the applicable 5% buffer. The council can therefore not demonstrate the required five-year housing land supply.

The next Statement covering the council’s position as at 1 April 2025 will also have regard to any changes introduced to national planning policy and guidance, as well as the status of the emerging (Submission) Local Plan.

Please contact planning.policy@tunbridgewells.gov.uk with any related queries.

Housing Delivery Test

The Housing Delivery Test (HDT) has been introduced as a monitoring instrument to demonstrate whether Local Authorities are delivering sufficient homes to meet their housing need. The HDT, which was introduced in November 2018, compares the number of new homes delivered over the previous three years with the Authority’s housing requirement for those years.

The latest 2023 HDT results were published in December 2024 and the council delivered 94% against the requirement. However, as per the letter from MHCLG below dated 30 April 2025, clarification was provided to the council that the correct position is 102%, which means no consequence for the council. The council will nonetheless consider producing an Action Plan following the adoption of the emerging Local Plan to support and encourage housing delivery within the borough in accordance with its Housing Trajectory.

You can view the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan 2019/20, published in September 2021, below.

Five-Year Gypsy and Traveller Pitch Supply

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has produced a Five-Year Gypsy and Traveller Pitch Supply Statement. The most recent data shows the council's position as at 1 April 2024 for a five-year period to 31 March 2029.

The Five-Year Gypsy and Traveller Pitch Supply Statement below explains in detail the approach taken by the council in producing the latest statement, including an explanation on how both the need and supply has been calculated.

The council has identified that it can currently demonstrate a Gypsy and Traveller pitch supply of 3.24 years based upon the identified need within the council's latest Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2024 (based upon the ethnic definition, which is consistent with the broadened December 2024 PPTS definition). The council therefore confirms that it does not currently have a five-year supply of Gypsy and Traveller pitches within the borough as at 1 April 2024.

The next statement covering the period 2025 to 2030 will have regard to any changes introduced to national planning policy and guidance, as well as the status of the new Local Plan.

Local Plan - Authority Monitoring Report

The council has published an Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) in relation to Local Plan matters. It monitors key contextual indicators in relation to the demographic, social, economic and environmental characteristics of the borough and reviews progress against key indicators relevant to adopted generic Core Strategy (2010) policies. It also includes analysis of progress in the production of the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Development Plans in the borough. In addition, it specifically reviews progress under the ‘duty to cooperate’ on strategic planning matters.

Taken together, this monitoring provides vital information about the effectiveness of Core Strategy policies and the extent to which they are successful in achieving the council’s strategic aims for the borough, as well as helping to inform policy directions in the new Local Plan.

The AMR, in conjunction with the council’s Housing Monitoring Reports, fulfils the council’s obligation to produce an AMR containing the above information at least annually and to make it publicly available. It relates to the period 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, as it coincides with the statistical monitoring period, although in some cases commentary is added relating to more recent events where this is considered to be helpful.

Please contact planning.policy@tunbridgewells.gov.uk with any related queries.