Sevenoaks District Council: Last chance to comment on the draft Local Plan

Residents can have a final say on the new Local Plan in a consultation running up to 3 February 2019.

Local people have one last opportunity to comment on the draft Local Plan before the Government’s Planning Inspector considers it later this year.

The Local Plan will guide what can built and where in the coming years and proposes to protect almost all of the District’s Green Belt, with just three Green Belt sites identified for much needed new homes and community infrastructure.

Over the past 18 months, residents had their say on the principles of the new Local Plan and, over the summer, the first draft of the Plan, with possible Green Belt sites for new homes.

Residents can now have their final say on the updated Local Plan, known as a ‘Regulation 19 Publication’, that will run up until 3 February.

Running alongside of this consultation will be an opportunity for residents to express their views on four additional Green Belt sites put forward by landowners and developers after the Council published the first draft of the Local Plan.

After the consultations close on 3 February, the Council will submit residents’ comments and the draft Local Plan to the Planning Inspector for consideration.

The final decision to approve the Local Plan will be taken by the Planning Inspector during a public examination this year.

If any residents wish to speak at the examination, which is at the Planning Inspector’s discretion, they will need to register their interest during the consultation period.

Residents can take part in the consultations at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/localplansubmission

Cllr Robert Piper, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning says: “We have carried out extensive consultations and listened carefully to our residents. Based on the evidence we have gathered, we are proposing to deliver a new Local Plan that will protect the overwhelming majority of the Green Belt while providing 10,000, much new homes together with community infrastructure such as new schools and health facilities.”

“I would urge residents to take this final opportunity to make their views known on the Local Plan before it is considered by the Government’s Planning Inspector later this year.”

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