Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, like many others, is reviewing its Local Plan.

This means it is inviting landowners to suggest sites for future development between2029 and 2044. It’s an important opportunity and worth your attention to get your submission right.

Calls for Sites like this allow proposals to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) for assessment. This offers an early opportunity to establish whether land could be suitable as a site allocation in the Local Plan Review as it progresses.

Local Plan Reviews mean that LPAs are open to suggestions to help them meet theirdevelopment obligations, including new homes, new jobs and other land uses.

In the instance of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, sites will initially be assessed for their suitability for development, together with the likelihood of their availabilityand achievability. This is known as the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment.

It’s vital, therefore, to have a thorough understanding of your site in line with the commitments and ambitions of the LPA and its Local Plan. Knowing your site’s suitability, in the context of the wider development picture, will give you the best chance of inclusion and could provide a more straightforward path to approval.

“Early engagement is often a useful pathway for development, and Local Plan Reviews and consultations are a brilliant example.

“But even if a site is submitted, there are no guarantees for inclusion further down the line. The best way to give your site its strongest opportunity is to seek expert advice on the potential uses, and to understand how that sits within the objectives and targets of the LPA.

“It may be the case that a site could serve multiple future uses, and assessing the variables fully will help you to prepare a comprehensive and compelling submission to give you the best shot at inclusion in the Local Plan.”

Andrew Metcalfe, Managing Director

Need some help to understand your site?

Our experience advising clients on Local Plan submissions makes us a solid choice for anyone thinking of submitting a site.

If your Local Plan is up for review and you want to understand the potential of your land, get in touch today for a no-obligation chat.