Purpose

The report will set out the background to the Local Plan Review, and the new 2026 Plan- making Regulations under which the Local Plan Review is to be produced. It will seek Cabinet approval of the Local Plan Review Timetable, and Notice of Intention to commence plan-making and their publication, as well as the incorporation of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre Plan into the Local Plan Review. It will outline the Local Plan Review Scoping Consultation and the Gateway 1 Self-Assessment, seeking delegated authority to work on these aspects of the process.   An approach towards delegations/sign-off for other key stages of the local plan process will also be included in the report.

Decision

RESOLVED

1. That the Local Plan Review, including the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre Plan, which is to be prepared in accordance with the new plan making regulations which came into force on 25 March 2026 be noted.
2. That the Local Plan Timetable attached at Appendix A, and its publication, before or at the same time as publication of the Notice of Intention, and that the Head of Planning Services be authorised to update and publish the Local Plan Timetable as necessary, during the course of the preparation of the Local Plan Review be approved.
3. That the Notice of Intention to commence local plan preparation, attached at Appendix B, and its publication online, on or before the deadline of 30 June 2026. Thereafter delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning Services, with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Leader of the Council and Chief Executive to approve any updates to the Notice of Intention and its publication be approved.
4. That the approach to delegation/sign-off arrangements for the key timetable stages in the production of the new Local Plan, attached at Appendix C be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION: To comply with the Development Strategy that an early review of the Local Plan should take place within 6 months of adoption.

CALL-IN AND URGENCY

In accordance with the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 14 in Part 4 of the Constitution, the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny gave prior agreement that this decision was urgent and would not be subject to call-in as delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s or public interest.