Adoption of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review

The Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review and associated Policies Map were adopted by the Council at its meeting on 20^th March 2024.  The Local Plan Review provides a comprehensive planning framework for the borough for the period 2021 to 2038.

The Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review replaces the Maidstone Borough Local Plan (2017), however some of the adopted Local Plan 2017 policies are still relevant and have been retained.

With the adoption of the Local Plan Review, the Development Plan for the Borough now comprises;

• Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review 2021-2038 (2024)
• Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013-30 as amended by Early Partial Review (2020)
• Kent Mineral Sites Plan (2020)
• North Loose Neighbourhood Plan 2015-2031 (2016)
• Loose Neighbourhood Plan 2018-2031 (2019)
• Marden Neighbourhood Plan 2017-2031 (2020)
• Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan 2016-2031 (2020)
• Lenham Neighbourhood Plan 2017-2031 (2021)
• Boughton Monchelsea Neighbourhood Plan 2021-2031 (2021)
• Otham Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2035 (2021)

Planning legislation requires that decisions on planning applications should be made in accordance with the Development Plan unless there are other, relevant planning reasons that mean an alternative decision should be made.

You can view the adopted Local Plan Review, Policies Map, Adoption Statement, Final Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment) and Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement on the Council’s website here; https://localplan.maidstone.gov.uk/home/local-plan-review. The Adoption Statement can also be viewed below for your convenience.

The Local Plan Review, the Policies Map and the final Sustainability Appraisal will be made available at libraries and at Maidstone House.  These can be viewed at the following times:

If you have any queries, please email ldf@maidstone.gov.uk

Kind regards,

Strategic Planning

Maidstone Borough Council

ADOPTION STATEMENT

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended)

The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended)

Maidstone Borough Local Plan Adoption Statement

Adoption Date: 20^th March 2024

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Regulations 26 and 35 of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and pursuant to Section 23(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 that the Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review was formally adopted by Maidstone Borough Council on 20^th March 2024.

The Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review replaces the policies of the Maidstone Local Plan (2017), however some of the adopted Local Plan 2017 policies are still relevant and have been retained.

The Local Plan Review was the subject of an independent examination carried out by Mr David Spencer BA(Hons) DipTP MRTPI, an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.  The examination included two stages of public hearing sessions. Stage 1 hearing sessions began on 6^th September 2022 and concluded on 25^th November 2022.  Stage 2 hearing sessions began on 16^th May 2023 and concluded on 9^th June 2023.

In the Inspector’s report issued to the Council on 8^th March 2024 the Inspector confirmed that subject to the Main Modifications recommended, the Maidstone Local Plan Review is considered to be sound, legally compliant and provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the Borough.

Pursuant to Section 23 (3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004), the adopted Local Plan Review incorporates the Inspector’s Main Modifications.  It also incorporates necessary additional Minor Modifications made by the Council that do not materially affect the policies of the Local Plan Review.

In accordance with Regulations 26 and 35 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and Regulation 16 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, the following documents have been made available on the Council’s website:

• The Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review and Policies Map
• The Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review Adoption Statement
• The Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review Sustainability Appraisal Report
• The Maidstone Borough Local Plan Review Sustainability Appraisal Adoption Statement

Please see the link Adopted Local Plan Review 2021-2038 – MBC Local Plan (maidstone.gov.uk)

The documents are also available to view at libraries across the borough as well as the Council’s principal office (by appointment), Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6JQ.

If you wish to view the documents but are unable to visit the inspection points, or view the documents on-line, you may request from the local planning authority a copy of any of the documents in accordance with Regulation 36 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended). If you are in this position, please contact the Strategic Planning team to make alternative arrangements. Please note that a charge will be payable for paper copies of requested documents, and you will be advised of the cost as part of your request.

Any person aggrieved by the adoption of the Local Plan may make an application to the High Court under Section 113 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 on the grounds that:

1. The Plan is not within the appropriate power conferred by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;
2. A procedural requirement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, or its associated Regulations has not been complied with.

Any such Application must be made to the High Court before the end of the period of six weeks beginning with the day after the date on which the Maidstone Local Plan Review was adopted (i.e. six weeks beginning on 21^st March 2024).

Enquiries should be addressed to Strategic Planning, Maidstone Borough Council, King Street, Maidstone ME15 6JQ, or by email to LDF@Maidstone.gov.uk