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Consideration was given to the recommendations
of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in respect of
starting public consultation on the Tonbridge and Malling draft
Regulation 18 Local Plan document.
 
Due regard was given to the views of the
Committee, the financial and value for money considerations, the
assessment of risk and the legal implications.  The benefits of progressing a Local Plan in
providing clarity on growth and protection, reducing uncertainty
for communities and empowering local planning were also
recognised. 
 
However, in recognition of significant concerns in respect of
ensuring that infrastructure was developed to support both new and
existing communities and in respect of traffic and highways
modelling, Cllr Taylor proposed:
 

(i)             
enhanced engagement with infrastructure providers;
and

(ii)            
that robust transport evidence be ensured for the
Local Plan.  

 
This
was seconded by Cllr Mehmet and supported unanimously by
Cabinet.
 
The
challenge of meeting Government mandated housing numbers, the
importance of community input via public consultation and the need
to balance development with infrastructure and transport
considerations were also recognised as significant. 
 
On
the grounds of engaging with as many individuals, communities and
organisations as possible to help shape the Local Plan and to
ensure that future development was delivered in a way that met
communities and stakeholder expectations, Cllr Taylor proposed,
Cllr Mehmet seconded and Cabinet
 
RESOLVED: 
That
 

(1)            
the Tonbridge and Malling Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation
document, Interim Sustainability Appraisal and Draft Active Travel
Strategy be approved for an 8-week public consultation period
between 10 November 2025 and 2 January 2026;

(2)            
any minor changes to the Tonbridge and Malling Regulation 18 Local
Plan document prior to consultation be delegated to the Director of
Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, in consultation with
the Cabinet Member for Planning;
 

(3)            
any minor changes to other supporting documentation shared with
Members to date prior to consultation be delegated to the Director
of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health in consultation with
the Cabinet Member for Planning;
 

(4)            
the agreement of other supporting material to be produced for
consultation, including a number of Topic Papers, be delegated to
the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, in
consultation with the Leader of the Borough Council and Cabinet
Member for Planning;
 

(5)            
the amended Local Development Scheme (October 2025) be
approved;
 

(6)            
delegated authority be granted to the Director of Planning, Housing
and Environmental Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member
for Infrastructure and Tonbridge Regeneration, to write to
infrastructure providers to seek responses to the Regulation 18
Local Plan consultation document;

(7)            
the highways work done to date and the further work needed between
Regulation 18 and Regulation 19 consultation be noted; and

(8)            
delegated authority be granted to the Director of Planning, Housing
and Environmental Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Members
for Planning and Infrastructure and Tonbridge Regeneration, to
review the specification for highways work and any additional work
so it adequately responded to community concerns about highway
impacts in order to inform the ongoing assessment of site
allocations in the Draft Local Plan.