Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has published the final draft of its new Local Plan, setting the stage for a decisive vote by full council on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
The document details the strategic spatial development vision for the borough looking ahead to 2042, setting out policies to deliver nearly 20,000 new homes and over 360,000 square meters of commercial space alongside necessary infrastructure and environmental protections.
If councillors grant approval, the decision will formally initiate the “Regulation 19” stage, opening a statutory consultation window for residents, business owners, and local stakeholders to submit formal representations.
Grounded in Community Feedback and Technical Evidence
The newly published submission draft reflects months of refinement following the council’s second Regulation 18 public consultation, which took place from November 10, 2025, to January 2, 2026.
During that initial phase, community members and organizations offered broad feedback on key planning priorities, potential development sites, housing allocations, and environmental considerations. Since early 2026, planning officers have reviewed those responses alongside updated technical evidence—including viability studies, transport and infrastructure modeling, and environmental impact assessments—to shape the final proposal.
Understanding the Regulation 19 Stage
Unlike informal consultation rounds designed to gather general ideas and community priorities, Regulation 19 represents a specific legal milestone under national planning regulations.
Comments submitted during Regulation 19 are strictly defined. Representations must evaluate whether the proposed plan complies with all statutory and procedural requirements and satisfies the legal test of being “sound”—meaning it is positively prepared, evidence-backed, effective, and compliant with national planning policy.
Road to Submission and Public Examination
Should full council vote to approve the draft on September 3, the local authority will publish full instructions, start dates, and deadlines for submitting Regulation 19 representations.
Following the consultation period, council officers will evaluate the feedback and make a recommendation on submitting the plan to central government. The Local Plan, its technical evidence base, and all formal representations will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, paving the way for an independent Planning Inspector to hold a public examination before the plan can be officially adopted.
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