Dartford Borough Council’s cabinet considered proposals to launch an online public survey on the future of the town centre, with the masterplan expected to gain formal planning status by the end of 2027.
Plans to shape the future of Dartford town centre went before the borough’s cabinet on 24 September 2026, which considered a report setting out the initial evidence base and proposed goals for a new town centre masterplan.
What the masterplan is intended to do
The masterplan was first agreed by cabinet in October 2024. Officers described its purpose as creating a “cohesive Dartford Town Centre planning and design framework” that highlights the special character of the town centre, guides the quality of new development, and provides clarity for investment decisions. The report noted that this was “especially pertinent in light of competing town centres and Local Government Reorganisation.”
The masterplan is intended to support the Dartford Local Plan, adopted in April 2024, which identified Central Dartford — alongside Ebbsfleet — as the overriding priority for development in the borough, with regeneration expected through improved infrastructure and mixed-use development.
Proposed goals and public survey
Officers presented three draft goals for the masterplan: a vibrant, attractive and multi-functional town centre; a place for sustainable and environmentally friendly living; and a strong identity and civic pride. Each goal was accompanied by a set of objectives, including growing town centre living through mixed-use regeneration, promoting sustainable travel, celebrating Dartford’s unique history, and stimulating arts and cultural activities.
Cabinet was asked to agree those goals and to grant delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Planning and Place to proceed with an initial public consultation via online methods in autumn 2026. Officers proposed a four-week online survey, running from the end of September into October, inviting residents to comment on the goals and objectives and to upload photographs of town centre locations they felt should be addressed in the masterplan. Written responses by other means were also to be accepted.
Route to formal planning status
Officers recommended that the masterplan be produced as a “Supplementary Plan” — a document type introduced under recent planning reform — so that it can be treated as a material consideration in planning decisions and remain in use after Local Government Reorganisation. A second, formal written public consultation on a full draft document was anticipated for the start of 2027, followed by examination by a planning inspector, with adoption as a Supplementary Plan expected by the end of 2027.
The report identified a medium risk that, without an up-to-date masterplan, Dartford town centre could be “overlooked by external investors” in the face of competition from other North Kent towns with more current planning guidance. The masterplan is being delivered in-house by officers, with no additional financial implications reported at this stage.
The council had not published the minutes of the meeting at the time of writing, so the committee’s decision is not yet on the public record.
Main picture: High Street, Dartford – Chris Whippet (Geograph / Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 2.0