Planning and Transport — 14 September 2026
Meeting Agenda
| Meeting Date: | Monday 14 Sep 2026 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 19:30 |
| Councillors | Jon Aldridge Chairman, Angela Baker, Michael Gemmell Smith, Alan Layland, Margot McArthur, Stuart McGregor, Vince Parker, Angela Read Vice-Chairwoman, Michael Stockdale, Jeff Streets, Bob Todd. |
| Committee: | Planning and Transport |
| Venue: | Rickards Hall. 72a High Street Edenbridge, TN8 5AR Kent |
| Notes: | |
| Summary: |
Members of the District Council wish to state that although they will be considering planning applications at this meeting they would be reconsidering them at the district level, taking into account all relevant evidence and representations there.
Members are reminded to the Code of Conduct, and Appendix B - Registering interests and non participation.
Members of the public, and members with prejudicial interests on items on the Agenda, may make representations, answer, ask questions and give evidence at this meeting in respect of items on the Agenda. (This is the only opportunity for members of the public to make a contribution during the meeting.)
Both public and members are limited to three minutes per person to speak and the total time designated for public questions shall not exceed fifteen minutes unless directed by the Chairman of the meeting.
Status: Refused
Status: Granted
Status: Granted
Status: Granted
Status: Granted
Status: Granted
Status: Granted
Demolition of existing rear utility/lean-to structure and garden shed. Proposed single-story rear extension with roof windows housing a replacement open-plan kitchen and breakfast area.
Recommendation: Members supported this application.
Demolition of a small storage building and the erection of a new outdoor extraction unit within the existing timber merchant site.
Recommendation: Members supported this application.
Construction of a new storage building for AW Champion at Fircroft Way in Edenbridge. The application includes external storage in connection with the main site and the demolition of the existing building.
Recommendation: Members supported this application.
Kent County Council is taking part in the 2026-27 National Highway and Transport Surveys, run by measure2improve on behalf of the National Highways & Transport Network (NHT).
They want to hear from as wide a range of people as possible, even residents that have only just moved to the area or those who not pay Council Tax; all residents can take part. Residents can complete any or all of the surveys. The results of each year's surveys are shared with KCC's highway and transportation managers to help them understand what people think about these services and support future planning for roads, walking and cycling, buses and other transport in Kent.
Responses are anonymous. Some questions, such as age range, are included to help us understand who is taking part and whether any groups may be under-represented
The survey closes on 28th February 2027.
Complete the surveys using the link below:
The Regulation 19 consultation on the Sevenoaks District Local Plan closes on 17 September 2026. The Town Council has continued to review the emerging Plan, including the proposed Edenbridge site allocations, relevant policies and supporting evidence, with assistance from its Planning Consultant, Alan Dyer.
Following the detailed representations submitted at Regulation 18, the Council is taking a focused and evidence-based approach at Regulation 19, concentrating on matters of particular relevance to Edenbridge and addressing the legal compliance and soundness of the Plan.
A number of representations have now been drafted, with further work being undertaken by the Planning Consultant, Town Clerk and Cllrs Aldridge and Baker. These cover strategic and site-specific matters, including the distribution and scale of development, Green Belt, highways and transport, flood risk, water, education, sport and leisure, community facilities, utilities and infrastructure.
The Council has also undertaken significant community engagement, including publicity through its website, social media and newsletter, a Local Plan information leaflet delivered to households across Edenbridge, and four public drop-in sessions. These sessions provided residents with information about the proposed Plan and an opportunity to discuss the proposals with Town Council representatives and, on 27 August, with SDC Leader Cllr Maskell and Cllr Williams.
The emerging strategic approach recognises that Edenbridge will accommodate further growth and that some Green Belt release may be necessary, but seeks a more proportionate distribution of development, taking account of the town's size, accessibility, available land, services, infrastructure capacity and ability to properly integrate further development.
Particular attention is being given to the highways evidence and the cumulative impact of proposed development on Edenbridge's road network. The Planning Consultant has identified differences between the Local Plan Tests Report and more recent junction modelling and mitigation work which require further clarification from SDC.
Draft representations will continue to be refined ahead of the consultation deadline and will be made available to Members for review and comment. Given the timescale, the Planning & Transport Committee is asked to review and endorse the representations at its meeting on 14 September 2026, with authority delegated to the Town Clerk, in consultation with Cllrs Aldridge and Baker and the Planning Consultant, to finalise and submit the representations by 17 September 2026, in accordance with the overall positions and principles approved by Full Council.
To confirm the draft documents as presented in councillors' shared folder and to reconfirm delegated authority to Cllrs Aldridge, Baker and the Town Clerk to finalise all responses to appropriate policies for submissions representations to Reg 19
- To confirm the infrastructure development policy/programme of works.
- To give delegated authority to Cllrs Aldridge, Baker and the Town Clerk to confirm submission policy.
Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) is consulting on a revised Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule. The consultation opened on 6 August and closes on 17 September 2026.
The proposals would remove residential developments of 10 or more dwellings from the CIL Charging Schedule, with infrastructure contributions for larger developments instead secured through site-specific Section 106 (s106) agreements. CIL would continue to apply to relevant smaller-scale residential development.
Whilst s106 may provide greater flexibility to secure infrastructure directly associated with major developments, the proposed changes could significantly reduce future CIL receipts available directly to town and parish councils. This is of particular concern to Edenbridge given the scale of development proposed through the emerging Local Plan.
CIL has provided the Town Council with a flexible, locally controlled source of funding which has supported a wide range of community infrastructure and improvements to existing facilities. The concern is therefore not only the potential reduction in funding, but the loss of a mechanism which allows the Town Council to respond to local priorities which may not be covered by individual s106 agreements.
The Town Clerks of the four towns within Sevenoaks District have raised concerns regarding the proposals and are considering a co-ordinated response. There is also a longer-term consideration regarding the future arrangements for infrastructure contributions and engagement with town and parish councils following Local Government Reorganisation.
The Town Clerk and Cllr Baker will attend further discussions on the proposals and provide a verbal update at the meeting.
Members are asked to provide their views on the proposed changes and authorise the Town Clerk, in consultation with Cllrs Baker and Aldridge, to prepare and submit a response to SDC's Draft CIL Charging Schedule consultation on behalf of the Town Council.
- Annex 1 is confidential and is not included in the published papers.