Overview

The new Local Plan for Tunbridge Wells borough will provide the basis for determining the suitability of development proposals across the borough to 2038.

Much has changed since 2010, when the current strategic plan (the Core Strategy) was adopted, in particular the increased levels of housing and economic development need.

The role of the Local Plan is to set out the spatial vision and strategic objectives for the borough, as well as the development strategy needed to meet those objectives. It details overarching place shaping policies for each parish and settlement within the borough, as well as specific site allocations to deliver the strategy, and detailed development management policies to be applied to all new developments across the borough.

It aims to strike a balance between:

• growth to meet current and future housing needs
• safeguarding the borough’s important natural and historic environments

Stages of the Local Plan

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council submitted its emerging Local Plan for Examination in November 2021, since when an independent Planning Inspector has been examining the Plan on behalf of the Secretary of State.

As indicated on the flowchart below, the emerging Local Plan has undergone five periods of public consultation. There were three periods prior to the submission: an Issues and Options (Regulation 18) stage, a Draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) stage, and a Pre-Submission version of the Local Plan (Regulation 19). The other two periods post-submission include a public consultation focussing on the proposed changes to the Submission Local Plan following the receipt of the Inspector’s Initial Findings in November 2022, and a Public Consultation in September – October 2024 on a suite of new evidence base documents following Stage 3 Hearing Sessions held in June and July 2024. A final Hearing Session was held in November 2024.

The council is now consulting on proposed ‘Main Modifications’ to the Local Plan, these being needed to make the Plan ‘Sound’ and allowing Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to proceed to adopt the new Local Plan in due course. The proposed ‘Main Modifications’ are accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment and other supporting consultation documents.

The consultation period runs from Monday 17th March until midnight on Wednesday 30th April 2025, during which time representations may be made. Representations must be made in writing and received within the consultation period,

Further details of the public consultation can be found on the Consultation on proposed Main Modifications to the Local Plan webpage.

Please visit webpages Examination of the Local Plan and latest news for further details on the Examination or the previous stages of the Local Plan as required.

The process and overall timetable for the Local Plan, as well as for other planning documents, is contained in the council’s latest Local Development Scheme where both earlier and updated versions of the Local Development Scheme can be found.

When adopted, the new Local Plan will replace the existing 2006 Local Plan, the Core Strategy (2010) and the Site Allocations Local Plan (2016).