Local Plan set for examination | Sevenoaks District Council

Local Plan set for examination

Published: Monday, 12th August 2019

Sevenoaks District Council's new Local Plan will be tested at a series of public examination hearings beginning next month.

The Local Plan comprises of proposals for new homes, business space and community improvements while continuing to protect the much-cherished Green Belt. Residents have played an important role in the development of the Plan by responding to three District-wide consultations in their thousands.

Karen Baker (DipTP MA DipMP MRTPI), a Government Planning Inspector, will chair the hearings that will check the Plan meets all the legal requirements and meets the future development needs of the District.

These hearings are open to the public who can come along and listen to any of the discussions. Residents who have previously registered an interest in speaking at these hearings may also be called upon by the Inspector to have their say.

The hearing sessions will take place as follows:

  • Week one - 24 to 27 September 2019 - The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks
  • Week two - 1 to 3 October 2019 - The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks
  • Week three - 5 to 7 November 2019 - The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks
  • Week four - 12 to 15 November 2019 - Sevenoaks District Council Offices, Argyle Road.

Morning sessions begin at 10am and afternoon sessions begin at 2pm.

If approved, the Local Plan will become the foundation upon which all future planning applications in the District will be determined for the next two decades.

Cabinet Member for Development & Conservation, Cllr Julia Thornton, says: “After years of work, evidence gathering and input from our residents via three public consultations, we believe we have submitted a sound Local Plan for examination.

“Our Plan is strongly evidence based and strikes a realistic balance between meeting new housing targets imposed on us by national government whilst still overwhelmingly protecting our precious Green Belt, which makes the Sevenoaks District such a special place to live and work.

“We look forward to the hearings that start next month as they are an important part of the examination process, which, we hope, will ultimately lead to our Local Plan being approved and adopted during the first half of 2020.”

To find out more about the Local Plan Examination, visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/localplanexamination