The Sevenoaks District Council's Development & Infrastructure Advisory Committee convened on 23 September 2025, to discuss and approve the content of the draft Local Plan for Regulation 18 consultation, marking a significant step in the plan-making process. The committee agreed to recommend that the Cabinet approve the draft, which outlines strategies for housing, employment, and infrastructure development in the district until 2042. The committee also delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Planning & Regulatory Services and the Portfolio Holder for Development & Infrastructure to approve the final formatting, presentation, and any minor text changes before the consultation begins.

Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation

The primary focus of the meeting was the approval of the 'Regulation 18 Consultation Draft Local Plan' Public reports pack 23rd-Sep-2025 19.00 Development Infrastructure Advisory Committee.pdf, which is a crucial stage in the development of the Local Plan. The consultation, scheduled for 23 October to 11 December 2025, aims to gather public and stakeholder feedback on the plan's proposals.

Key aspects of the Local Plan discussed were:

• Housing Target: The plan addresses a mandatory housing target of 1,145 dwellings per annum, a 63% increase from the previous target. This equates to 17,175 new homes over the 15-year plan period (2027-2042).
• Development Strategy: The strategy aligns with the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), prioritising urban sites, brownfield land¹, and poorly-performing Green Belt land, now referred to as 'grey belt'.
• Settlement Hierarchy: The updated hierarchy focuses growth in sustainable locations, particularly around towns and service settlements, to ensure access to services and facilities.
• Growth Options: The plan presents two development scenarios:
  • Option 1: Baseline suitable sites.
  • Option 2: Baseline suitable sites plus a stand-alone settlement at Pedham Place, a greenfield site within both the Green Belt and the Kent Downs National Landscape².
• Strategic Sites: Several strategic sites are identified for potential large-scale development, including:
  • Land north of Sevenoaks, west of Otford Road (1,500 homes).
  • Wasps Stadium in Crockenhill parish.
  • Pedham Place (2,500 homes) - included only in Option 2.
• Evidence Base: The evidence base is largely complete, with ongoing updates related to transport, flooding, and infrastructure. Needs assessments for housing, Gypsy and Traveller accommodation, and the economy have been updated.
• Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP): The council is committed to developing a robust IDP to support the Local Plan's growth proposals.

The committee agreed to recommend that the Cabinet approve the draft Local Plan for public consultation purposes and delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Planning & Regulatory Services and the Portfolio Holder for Development & Infrastructure, Councillor Nigel Williams, to approve the final formatting and presentation of the document, as well as any minor text changes before the consultation begins.

Work Plan

The committee noted the work plan and included the Regulation 18 consultation Local Plan, including the Infrastructure Delivery Plan update, for the meeting on 25 November 2025.