Sevenoaks District Council is asking residents for final views on its new Local Plan, which sets out where 17,460 homes could be built across the district between 2027 and 2042 — a 63% rise on the previous target.

If you live in Sevenoaks district, this is your last chance to shape where thousands of new homes get built near you. The council has opened what it calls a Regulation 19 consultation — in plain terms, the final public comment stage before the plan is sent to an independent government inspector for examination. Once it passes that hurdle, it becomes the rulebook that decides what gets built, and where, for the next 15 years.

The council posted the announcement on its official news account this week.

The scale of building proposed is substantial. The Government’s revised formula for calculating how many homes each council must plan for has pushed Sevenoaks’ annual requirement from 704 homes a year to 1,164 — adding up to 17,460 homes over the plan period. The council says it had no choice but to plan for that figure, warning that without an up-to-date Local Plan, developers could win planning appeals and build where they like, with far less say from the council or local communities.

To hit the total, some Green Belt land will be released. The council says it has tried to keep that to a minimum and prioritise brownfield sites — land that has already been built on before — but critics argue more could be done. Sites already in the frame include the former Broke Hill Golf Course near Halstead, earmarked for a large housing allocation as part of meeting the overall requirement.

What supporters say

The council’s case is straightforward: plan now, or lose control later. According to council documents, an adopted Local Plan allows Sevenoaks to direct growth to the most sustainable locations, tie new development to new infrastructure — roads, school places, GP surgeries — and protect the most sensitive parts of the countryside by concentrating homes in fewer, better-planned places. Some developers and business groups back the approach, arguing the district’s high house prices are locking out younger people and key workers.

What opponents say

But many residents, parish councils and community groups are not convinced. The Regulation 18 consultations — earlier public comment rounds held in 2023 and 2024 — drew more than 5,300 respondents and around 11,000 comments, with strong objections to the overall scale of growth and to specific large sites. Critics argue that 17,460 homes is too many for a largely rural, Green Belt district, and that the character of villages and suburbs will be permanently changed.

Infrastructure is a recurring worry. Kent County Council, in its formal response to the earlier consultation, acknowledged the need for housing growth but raised concerns about whether roads, schools and other services can keep pace — particularly in locations where large numbers of homes are proposed without clear, costed plans for improvements alongside them. Residents near proposed sites have also flagged traffic, pressure on GP services and the loss of countryside views.

Some objectors go further, arguing that the council should challenge the Government’s housing figures more robustly, or find alternative sites that avoid Green Belt and the Kent Downs National Landscape — the protected area formerly known as the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

What the inspector will decide

After the consultation closes, the council will review all responses, decide whether any changes are needed, and then submit the plan to the Secretary of State. An independent planning inspector will hold public hearing sessions — some objectors and supporters may be invited to speak — and will test whether the plan is legally sound and genuinely deliverable. The council expects to adopt a final plan in 2027.

This is the decision that will matter. Comments at this stage must focus on whether the plan is legally compliant and meets four specific tests: that it is positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national planning policy. Those are the same tests the inspector will apply, so vague general objections carry less weight than specific, evidence-based points.

Key information

  • The Regulation 19 consultation is open until 17 September 2026
  • Comment online via the council’s consultation portal, by email to the Planning Policy team, or by post to: Regulation 19 Publication Comments, Planning Policy, Sevenoaks District Council, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HG
  • Paper copies of the plan are available at local libraries and the council offices
  • Late responses may not be considered — the council has confirmed the 17 September deadline is firm