Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council is asking residents whether its draft Local Plan is legally sound before it goes to an independent inspector — and the deadline to respond is 11.59pm on 25 October.

What this consultation is asking

Residents across Tonbridge and Malling have a final chance to formally challenge the borough’s Local Plan before it leaves local hands entirely. After Sunday night, the plan moves towards submission to the Government for independent examination — and any views not submitted by 11.59pm may not be accepted as part of the official process.

This isn’t the same as earlier rounds of consultation. The council is at what planners call Regulation 19 — the last statutory stage before the plan is sent for scrutiny. At this point, responses need to address whether the plan is legally compliant and whether it passes four formal soundness tests: is it positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy? General objections along the lines of “I don’t like this” won’t carry weight unless they’re tied to one of those tests.

Why the council says it matters

The Local Plan sets the rules for where new homes, employment sites, transport links and other facilities can be built across the borough for years to come. According to the council’s own engagement strategy, having an up-to-date plan gives the borough a stronger framework for directing development, protecting valued landscapes and coordinating infrastructure investment.

The council describes Regulation 19 as the final opportunity for formal representations before an independent inspector takes over. That inspector — appointed by the Planning Inspectorate, not the council — will then decide whether the plan holds up. They can recommend changes, ask for further work, or find that the plan is not sound.

What critics and residents may argue

But the narrower focus of Regulation 19 cuts both ways. Residents who are worried about roads, schools, GP surgeries, drainage or water supply near proposed development sites can still raise those concerns — they just need to frame them around whether the evidence justifies the plan’s approach, rather than simply opposing growth in principle.

Objections at this stage are expected to cover areas including housing numbers and site allocations, the impact on the Green Belt and countryside, effects on biodiversity and heritage, and whether infrastructure can realistically support the level of development proposed. Landowners, businesses, parish councils and community groups can all submit representations alongside individual residents.

What happens after the deadline

Once the consultation closes, the council will prepare a formal consultation statement and submit the plan and supporting documents to the Secretary of State. The council’s planning timetable sets a target of December 2026 for that submission, though this remains subject to the outcome of the current consultation and any amendments that follow.

The independent inspector’s examination is the point at which the council loses direct control of the process. An inspector who finds the plan unsound can require significant modifications before it can be adopted.

Key information

  • Deadline: 11.59pm, Sunday 25 October — responses after this time may not be accepted
  • What to address: Legal compliance and the four soundness tests (positively prepared, justified, effective, consistent with national policy)
  • Who can respond: Residents, businesses, landowners, parish councils, community groups and infrastructure providers
  • Next step: The council aims to submit the plan for independent examination by December 2026