Purpose

The new Local Plan that RDC is preparing will provide the planning framework for development in Rother District until 2042.  The policies within the Local Plan will be used to assess planning applications and guide future development.  The report sets TWBC’s response to the proposed Local Plan polices and site allocations.

Decision

RESOLVED :

1. That the current consultation on Rother District Council’s Local Plan 2025-2042 Regulation 18 (part 2) be noted
2. That the draft responses/comments set out in the table of TWBC officer comments presented in Appendix A of this Report be approved and submitted, on or before the consultation deadline 23 March 2026, as Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s formal representations to Rother District Council’s Local Plan 2025-2042 Regulation 18 (part 2) consultation with delegated authority given to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make corrections to grammar, formatting and typographical errors, and other non?material changes that do not affect the substance or intent of the response.

Reasons for the decision

To agree to submit the representations/comments attached at Appendix A to the RDC consultation on behalf of TWBC ensures that TWBC has fully engaged with the consultation and the opportunity provided by it to inform the emerging RDC Local Plan document and would allow the response to be sent and help to ensure the Council continues to meet its current statutory duty to co?operate, which remains in force pending any formal repeal, while also demonstrating the Council’s ongoing commitment to effective strategic engagement with neighbouring authorities.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing and not make representations would miss an important opportunity to engage, input and advise on the RDC Local Plan Regulation 18 (Part 2) and would create a risk that the Council is unable to demonstrate compliance with the current statutory duty to co-operate, which requires constructive, active and ongoing engagement on strategic cross-boundary matters.

To submit alternative representations would require further discussion with officers and/or Councillors to inform the response, which would mean the consultation deadline is unlikely to be met.