Purpose

To agree Maidstone Borough Council’s response to the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Local Plan Review Scoping Consultation (Regulation 20).

Decision

That Maidstone Borough Council’s response to the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Local Plan Review Scoping consultation (Regulation 20) (Appendix 1 to the report) be agreed and submitted to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council; noting that the consultation had closed and that the response would replace the officer-level response already submitted by the deadline of 11 August 2026.  

Reasons for the decision

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) adopted its Local Plan 2020 to 2038 in December 2025. The adopted Plan contains a commitment to commence an early review, and TWBC has now begun preparation of a new Local Plan Review covering the period 2029 to 2044. 

The Regulation 20 Scoping Consultation is the first formal stage under the new plan-making system as outlined by the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026. It is intended to establish the scope of the Local Plan Review, including the key issues, priorities, engagement approach and matters to be addressed through the emerging evidence base. 

This is not a consultation on preferred growth locations, site allocations or a draft spatial strategy. However, it is strategically important because TWBC indicates that it will need to plan for around 1,100 dwellings per annum between 2029 and 2044, compared with the 678 dwellings per annum figure in its recently adopted Plan. 

TWBC identifies that the increased housing requirement will require a fresh assessment of growth options and a “no stone unturned” approach, potentially including consideration of strategic-scale development and a possible new Garden Settlement. 

For Maidstone Borough Council, the key issues are not site-specific at this stage. They relate to the potential cross-boundary implications of future growth options, including transport, infrastructure, water resources, wastewater capacity, flood risk, ecological networks, employment markets, Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs, and the future relationship with the emerging Kent and Medway Spatial Development Strategy and Local Government Reorganisation. 

What does the consultation document contain?

The document is structured around a series of topic areas and SWOT analyses covering housing, the built and historic environment, the natural environment and Green Belt, climate change, employment and commercial uses, transport and movement, infrastructure and communities, priorities and the future Local Plan Vision.

The overall narrative is about balancing significantly higher levels of housing and economic growth with the constraints of a borough where around 70% lies within the High Weald National Landscape and around 22% is Green Belt, alongside extensive heritage and environmental designations.

TWBC is also proposing town centre plan sections for Royal Tunbridge Wells and Paddock Wood as part of the Local Plan Review. This is something that is included in their current Local Plan.

The document also includes and proposed Engagement Strategy (replacing this element from the Statement of Community Involvement) and asks how people wish to be engaged throughout the plan making process.

Key emerging strategic themes

Housing affordability: TWBC recognises that house prices are high, affordability is poor, the population is ageing and additional affordable and specialist housing will be needed.

Infrastructure-led growth: there is a strong emphasis on ensuring growth is supported by education, health, transport, utilities, water supply and community infrastructure.

Water and flooding: the document gives prominence to water stress, wastewater infrastructure, flood risk, particularly around Paddock Wood, and climate resilience.

Economy and employment: TWBC identifies a need for new employment land, modern business space and town centre regeneration, particularly in Royal Tunbridge Wells and Paddock Wood.

Climate and environment: the Plan will need to balance higher growth with National Landscape, Green Belt, biodiversity, heritage, flood risk and carbon reduction objectives.

What is most relevant for Maidstone Borough?

Cross-boundary housing pressures: the increase from 678 to around 1,100 homes per year is substantial. Even though TWBC has not identified growth locations yet, any strategic-scale option could have implications for West Kent and Maidstone.

Infrastructure and transport: the consultation repeatedly refers to infrastructure constraints and cross-boundary effects. For Maidstone, the most relevant issues are likely to be strategic transport corridors, rail, health and education infrastructure, employment markets, water and wastewater systems.

Spatial Development Strategy: TWBC expects to sit within a Kent and Medway SDS area and notes that the Local Plan will need to align with that future strategic framework. This is equally relevant for Maidstone and reinforces the need for collaborative working across Kent authorities.

Local Government Reorganisation: TWBC is progressing its review against the backdrop of local government reorganisation. That mirrors the wider Kent challenge of continuing plan-making while governance structures are changing.

Duty to cooperate-style working: although the new system changes the formal process, the practical need for evidence sharing and constructive officer engagement remains important, particularly on housing, employment, infrastructure, transport and environmental matters. All the more so, given the make-up of the West Kent unitary authority.

Proposed MBC response

Officers have submitted an initial draft response to all 22 of the Scoping Consultation questions. This was necessary due to the limited consultation window of 4-weeks (14 July to 11 August 2026), which did not offer opportunity to bring a proposed response to PAC/Cabinet for consideration until now.

A draft response to the consultation is appended to the report (Appendix 1 to the report), for PAC consideration and recommendation to Cabinet.

Next steps

Members are asked to consider the draft response (Appendix 1 to the report) and recommend to the Cabinet that the response be either confirmed as is, or amended as appropriate, and submitted to TWBC to replace the initial officer-level response.

The report was considered and supported by the Planning and Healthier Stronger Communities Policy Advisory Committee at its meeting on 2 September 2026.

Alternative options considered

Option 2: The response (Appendix 1) be recommended to be agreed with amendments as necessary, and submission to TWBC as part of their Local Plan Review Scoping Consultation (Regulation 20).

This option was not chosen as Cabinet were satisfied with the response to the consultation as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

Option 3: The response be recommended to be rescinded and no response submitted to TWBC as part of their Local Plan Review Scoping Consultation (Regulation 20).

This option was not chosen as it would mean that the Council’s views on the Regulation 20 Scoping document would not be duly submitted for consideration by TWBC as work on their Local Plan Review progresses. It may also compromise the Council’s ability to demonstrate ongoing commitment to effective strategic engagement with neighbouring authorities.