The Planning Committee of Tunbridge Wells Council met on Wednesday 27 May 2026 to discuss a hybrid planning application for Bassetts Farm in Horsmonden. The committee approved the application, subject to a Section 106 legal agreement and conditions, which will facilitate the development of 120 new homes, including affordable housing, and a new medical centre.

Bassetts Farm Development Approved

The committee granted planning permission for the hybrid application at Bassetts Farm, Goudhurst Road, Horsmonden¹. This development will comprise 120 new dwellings, including 40% affordable housing, alongside landscaping, public open space, allotments, and ecological enhancements. An outline application for a new medical centre was also approved. The decision was made subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement and a series of conditions.

The application, reference 24/00078/HYBRID, had been previously resolved for approval in April 2025, but was brought back to committee to consider amendments to the affordable housing tenure split, a financial contribution towards a new village hall, and the reinstatement of orchard areas.

Affordable Housing: The approved scheme will provide 48 affordable units, representing 40% of the total dwellings. This will be split between 60% social rent (29 units) and 40% intermediate tenures or other affordable routes to home ownership (19 units). This revised tenure split aligns with Policy H3 of the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan².

Village Hall Contribution: A financial contribution of £360,938 towards a new village hall in Horsmonden has been agreed, calculated at £719 per bed space. This contribution is considered CIL compliant³ and addresses a request from Horsmonden Parish Council⁴.

Orchards: The committee noted that two orchard areas, which had been removed in error, have been reinstated. The reinstatement plan includes planting mature apple trees, and the Landscape and Biodiversity Officer confirmed that this would not negatively impact the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)⁵ calculations, which already exceed policy requirements.

Arguments for Approval:

• Councillor Ellen Neville, who proposed the approval, highlighted that the application was a tidying up of previous decisions and that the affordable housing provision was significant.
• Councillor Hugo Pound, who seconded the motion, praised the number of social and affordable housing units, noting their rarity in the borough. He also thanked the Parish Council for their lobbying efforts regarding the village hall contribution and expressed satisfaction with the condition regarding orchard reinstatement.

Arguments Against/Concerns Raised:

• Christine Fisher, speaking in objection, expressed concerns about the impact of 170 houses (referring to a previous, larger proposal) on the village of Horsmonden, the pressure on roads and public transport, and the need to preserve farmland for food production. She also suggested that local farmer Colin Mantello should take over the farm to continue growing crops.
• Councillor Alison Boone, representing Horsmonden Parish Council, appreciated the revisit to the village hall contribution but requested flexibility in the wording of the contribution to allow for different forms of village hall facilities. She noted that the development would increase the village's population by approximately 22%.
• Councillor Tom Dawlings questioned the flexibility of the village hall contribution wording, but was informed by officers that the wording was subject to negotiation and that adopted policies specified a new village hall.
• Councillor Kimberley Johnson raised concerns about the KCC new school land requirement no longer being needed and whether that funding could be revisited due to the projected population increase. Officers clarified that the provision was being met through the expansion of an existing school.

The committee voted unanimously to approve the application, subject to the Section 106 agreement and conditions.