Local Plan
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Local Plan

Please see below. Hard copies of the consultation documents can be viewed in the Parish Office.
Public Consultation on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Response to the Inspector’s Initial Findings Letter on the Examination of the New Local Plan
Following the Local Plan examination hearing sessions (March to July 2022) for the Tunbridge Wells Submission Local Plan, the Inspector wrote to the Borough Council setting out his initial findings in November 2022.
Having considered the initial findings, the Council is proposing that the examination of the Local Plan be progressed through a Revised Development Strategy to the Tunbridge Wells Submission Local Plan (SLP), to include the following changes:
  • Proposed removal of the strategic policy STR/SS 3: The Strategy for Tudeley Village from the Local Plan.
  • Revision of the strategic policy STR/SS 1: The Strategy for Paddock Wood and land at east Capel, including a reduction in the amount of residential housing growth by approximately 1,000 dwellings, with all housing being on Flood Zone 1 and employment land on Flood Zone 2, along with a reduction of employment provision, and reconfigured sport and recreation provision and secondary school education provision (as set out at Appendix D of the Development Strategy Topic Paper Addendum).
  • At Hawkhurst it is proposed to revise site allocation policy number AL/HA 5: Land to the north of Birchfield Grove, to include housing, and land safeguarded for primary school expansion (in accordance with a planning committee resolution on application reference 22/02664/HYBRID).
  • Also at Hawkhurst, the Council proposes the removal of site allocation policy number AL/HA 8: Limes Grove (March’s Field) from the Local Plan. This site was proposed for employment use in the Submission Local Plan.
  • Progression of a 10 year housing land supply position including the requirement for an immediate review of the plan.
Further details about the Revised Development Strategy and the Council’s full response to the Inspector’s Initial Findings Letter can be viewed, together with associated Evidence Base and other supporting documents, including a Sustainability Appraisal Addendum, on the Council’s website at https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/local-plan.
Public Consultation
We are inviting people to comment on the Council’s response to the initial findings, including the revised development strategy, through a public consultationwhich runs from Monday the 15 January until Midnight on Monday 26 February 2024.
The consultation documents are available on the Council’s consultation portal https://consult.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/kse/ and the Council’s website https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/local-plan.
Paper/hard copies are also available for public inspection during the consultation period (15 January to 26 February 2024) at:
  • The Amelia Scott, Mount Pleasant Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1AW, which is open from 9am-6pm (Monday to Wednesday and on Friday), 9am-8pm on Thursday, 9am-5pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on a Sunday (Telephone 01892 526121).
  • Capel Parish Council: Capel Village Hall, Falmouth Place, Five Oak Green, TN12 6RD which is open from 10am – 12pm on Tuesday and Thursday (Telephone 01892 837524).
  • Paddock Wood Town Council: The Podmore Building, St. Andrews Field, St. Andrews Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6GT which is open from 10am-3pm Monday to Friday (Telephone 01892 837373).
  • Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council: The Old Fire Station, Stone Street, Cranbrook, TN17 3HF which is open from 10am–12pm Monday to Friday (Appointments can be made outside of these times by prior arrangement by calling 01580 713112).
Representations/comments can be submitted on-line, via email or by post. Further details about the consultation and how to submit a response can be found on the Council’s website https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/local-planand clicking onto Consultation on the Council’s Response to the Inspector’s Initial Findings.
To ask any questions or find out more about the consultation, please contact LocalPlan@tunbridgewells.gov.uk