Both Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) and Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) are consulting on Local Plans. These are the documents that determine where development should be in the future, as far as the 2040s.
But both of our Councils have been placed in a near impossible position by Government changes to planning policies.
The housing targets have increased by 34% in Tonbridge and Malling, and 63% in Sevenoaks. These are now not choices for either of our Councils, the Government have made this mandatory for them.
Whilst reducing the housing target in cities such as London and neighbouring Labour-controlled Councils such as Medway, both TMBC and SDC have been asked to take more.
That means the Government are asking all the towns and villages across Tonbridge, Edenbridge and North Downs Villages to deliver over 2,000 new homes each year.
Both the Leaders of TMBC and SDC, Matt Boughton and Roddy Hogarth, have pushed back against the Government, but Labour are determined to push ahead with mass development in our community, regardless of what our local councils think is in our best interest.
Grey belt
The Government also introduced this concept of ‘grey belt’ land. Do you remember in the General Election in 2024 when they said this would mean disused petrol stations?
I am afraid, it doesn’t.
They have effectively made all land immediately adjacent to towns and villages grey belt. Essentially this gives the green light for developers to put forward proposals to expand all our towns and villages, without communities being able to rely on any previous protection the greenbelt provided.
Our green spaces are an invaluable part of the national inheritance for our children, and our children's children - when it's gone, it's gone.
What happened in Parliament?
On Thursday 9 June 2025, the Government held a series of votes on its latest Planning and Infrastructure Bill. That evening, something extremely important happened which opened the door for these changes.
As Conservatives, we tried to change the Government’s proposals. Our specific policy would be that towns and villages should not be allowed to merge into one another. This would have protected the shape of our towns and villages as we know them today – effectively making the Government’s definition of greybelt redundant.
Sadly, we were defeated with our amendment. Not just by the Labour Party, but also by the Green Party too.
That evening in the House of Commons made clear to me that both Labour and the Greens are determined to change as much of our greenbelt as possible to greybelt land.
Where are the main proposals?
3,000 homes have been put forward in Borough Green, extending east to Platt and Wrotham Heath (Tonbridge and Malling Borough)
2,300 homes have been put forward in Tonbridge, with 1,700 in North East Tonbridge between Hadlow Road and Higham Lane, and 600 in South West Tonbridge along Brook Street (Tonbridge and Malling Borough)
2,000 homes in Edenbridge including land north of Swan Lane, sites along Hilders Lane and Breezehurst Farm, as far as Crouch House Road (Sevenoaks District)
1,000 homes in Hildenborough, much of which is between B245 Tonbridge Road and Stocks Green Lane (Tonbridge and Malling Borough)
1,000 homes in New Ash Green, south of Redhill Road as far as Church Lane in Ash (Sevenoaks District)
600 homes in East Peckham, primarily between Church Lane and Hale Street (Tonbridge and Malling Borough)
300 homes in Hadlow, including land off Carpenters Lane and Court Lane (Tonbridge and Malling Borough)
300 homes in Chiddingstone Causeway, between Redleaf Close and the Little Brown Jug (Sevenoaks District)
This is not an exhaustive list, there are many other sites now being proposed too.
What can I do?
Put simply, we all need to respond to the consultation both Councils are running. Anyone is able to respond.
Sevenoaks District Council
The consultation for land in Sevenoaks District Council area started on Thursday 23 October 2025 and runs until Thursday 11 December 2025.
You can respond HERE.
You can see the Draft Local Plan in full HERE.
You can see the map of sites HERE.
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
The consultation for land in Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council area is due to start on Monday 10 November 2025, and run through to Friday 2 January 2026.
I will update this page after 10 November 2025 with the link to the response page.
In the meantime, you can see the Draft Local Plan in full HERE.
You can see the list of sites HERE.
