Purpose

This
report relates to the updated LDS dated June 2024, updated to
reflect progress made on the emerging Local Plan and consequential
changes needed to the indicative timetable for the remaining stages
of the Local Plan Examination and its adoption, as well production
of other Planning Policy documents including the Royal Tunbridge
Wells Town Centre Plan.
 

Decision

RESOLVED – That the Local
Development Scheme (June 2024) as at Appendix A comes into effect
from 21 June 2024 and be published on the Council’s website
be approved. 

Reasons for the decision

To
update the Local Development Scheme (LDS) as at Appendix A would
provide interested parties with clear information on the scope and
timetable for the production and adoption of the new Local Plan,
RTW Town Centre Plan and SPD’s, including the timetable for
public engagement in the preparation of the RTW Town Centre Plan
and SPDs.  The scope of these documents
is considered to be the most appropriate given the wider Local Plan
policy requirements, with the timetable considered to be the
optimum balancing progress of the Local Plan and particularly the
indications of certainty of soundness to be provided by the
Inspector’s report (expected autumn 2024/early winter 2025)
with the need to produce the documents promptly given the
timescales for delivering the strategic sites and framework for RTW
town centre. 

Alternative options considered

Do not
update the LDS – This means that progress on the Local Plan
would not follow the Local Plan timetable set out in the current
LDS (December 2023), meaning that local residents, statutory
agencies, businesses, landowners, developers, and the Planning
Inspectorate would not have up-to-date information on the
progress/production of the new Local Plan. This would be a
significant risk at Examination, which requires production of the
Local Plan to follow a published LDS. 
Furthermore, there would be consequential effects on the production
of the RTW Town Centre Plan and SPDs. 
This would be contrary to best practice, legislation and national
planning practice guidance.
 
Update
the LDS but propose a different programme and scope of the planning
policy documents.  This option would
delay publication of an updated LDS ahead of the ‘Stage
3’ Hearing Sessions which commence 17 June 2024, meaning that
progress on the Local Plan would not follow a published
LDS.  As with the option above, this is
a risk.