Public Consultation on the proposed Main Modifications to the Tunbridge Wells Pre- Submission Local Plan under Section 20(7c) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Part 6 (Section 20) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012

Public Consultation on the proposed Main Modifications to the Tunbridge Wells Pre- Submission Local Plan under Section 20(7c) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Part 6 (Section 20) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council submitted its emerging Local Plan for Examination in November 2021, since when an independent Planning Inspector has been examining the Plan on behalf of the Secretary of State.

 

Stage 1 and 2 Hearing Sessions took place in 2022, and Stage 3 Hearing Sessions were held in June and July 2024, followed by a Public Consultation in September – October on a suite of new evidence base documents. A final Hearing Session was held in November 2024.

 

The Council is now consulting on proposed ‘Main Modifications’ to the Pre-Submission Local Plan, these being needed to make the Plan ‘Sound’ and allowing Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to proceed to adopt the new Local Plan in due course. The proposed ‘Main Modifications’ are accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulation Assessment and other supporting consultation documents.

 

Consultation Documents:

The consultation invites comments on the following documents:

 

Consultation Documents

 

• Schedule of proposed ‘Main Modifications’
• Schedule of proposed Map Changes (Policies Map/Inset Maps)
• Sustainability Appraisal (Part 2)
• Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) (Part 2)

 

There are also supporting documents, which are available for background information only and are not for comment:

Supporting Documents

• Pre-Submission Local Plan
• Updated Trajectory (following publication of December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF))
• Updated Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP)
• Schedule of proposed ‘Additional Modifications’
• Local Plan Policies Map
• Local Plan Inset Maps

 

The consultation documents along with the Statement of Representations Procedure, and Making Representations Guidance Note can be viewed via the consultation portal https://consult.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/kse/ or on the Council’s website at https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/local-plan

 

The consultation period runs from Monday 17th March until midnight on Wednesday 30th April 2025, during which time representations may be made. Representations must be made in writing and received within the consultation period.

 

The consultation documents (hard/paper copies) are available for public inspection during the consultation period 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).
• All Parish and Town Council Offices (please find locations and contacts here.
• All libraries across Tunbridge Wells borough – please find locations and opening times here https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/community-and-leisure/libraries).

 

Representations can be submitted as follows:

 

1. Online at https://consult.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/kse/
2. By e-mail to localplan@tunbridgewells.gov.uk (a downloadable form is available)
3. By post to Planning Policy, Planning Services, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RS

 

Further details are available on the Local Plan pages of the Council’s website, as above. If you have any queries or are seeking assistance, please email localplan@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or telephone 01892 554056.