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The Tonbridge & Malling Local Development Framework
An overview
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced a
new type of plan for shaping and guiding development and new
procedures for preparing it, known as a Local Development
Framework (LDF).
The LDF for Tonbridge and Malling is progressively replacing
the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Local Plan in setting out
planning policies and proposals for the area. The LDF comprises
a number of documents, the programme for which is set out
in the Local Development Scheme (LDS).
The Core Strategy was adopted in September 2007. This sets
out the spatial vision, spatial objectives and core policies
for the borough. All subsequent Development Plan Documents
(DPDs) produced for the borough must be in conformity with
it. As a spatial plan the Core Strategy has drawn upon a range
of strategies produced by the local authority and other organisations
that have implications for the development or protection of
land.
T&MBC has also produced a Development Land Allocations
DPD, which identifies sites for housing, employment and retail
development in the borough, and a Tonbridge Central Area Action
Plan, which establishes detailed proposals and policies for
the centre of Tonbridge. Both of these documents were adopted
in April 2008.
The latest element of the LDF, the Managing Development and
the Environment DPD has just completed its consultation period
and is now with T&MBC for consideration. The aim will
be to submit the plan to the Secretary of State in the summer
of 2009 following at least one further stage of consultation
on a full draft of the plan. The plan will then be subject
to Public Examination before an independent Inspector who
will make binding recommendations to the Council before the
plan can be adopted, probably some time during 2010 or earlier
if possible.
The usefulness and continued appropriateness of the previous
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Local Plan policies were subject
to a rigorous review during 2007 because only those that meet
current Government guidelines were able to be saved beyond
28 September 2007.
Borough Green Parish Council acted proptly to ensure that
the village was adequately represented for consideration in
the borough’s documentation and as a result, The Borough
Green Parish Plan – Action Plan was one of those saved.
May 2008
