Sevenoaks Liberal Democrats have condemned the Sevenoaks District Council Local  Plan as a missed opportunity that ignores local residents in favour of developers and  landowners. 

Cllr Alan Leaman, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Sevenoaks District  Council, said: 

“The Conservatives have been working on this for more than a decade. Local residents  are rightly angry if this is the best the Tories can come up with. 

“It’s a strategy full of missed opportunities, with problems stored up for the future and  hypocritical U-turns, like at Broke Hill. 

“This is a plan for the developers and landowners who put it forward, and the  Conservatives who facilitated it. 

“It’s a local plan in name only. 

“It is not local, as the views of residents have been minimised and then sidelined. 

“And it’s not a credible plan, with no serious thought for the transport and other  infrastructure required before many of these schemes can start. 

“We know that the Conservatives will say it’s not their fault. 

“Why is nothing ever their fault? As Lib Dems, we believe the Sevenoaks district  deserves better, and we will work with local communities towards that.” 

On 3rd March this year, Liberal Democrat Councillors in Sevenoaks wrote to the Council's Conservative Leadership proposing urgent all-party discussions on their controversial plans for new housing developments. 

More than 3 months later, the Conservative leader of the Council has yet to reply!

The Lib Dems pointed out that the Sevenoaks residents opposed all of the proposals included in the Conservative plans for the District. Their opposition was almost unanimous and unprecedented in scale. A re-think was required.

Councillors themselves were not involved in preparation of the plans. At an important meeting of the Council's Development Advisory Committee, councillors were not even allowed to comment on the consultation, and told that they should be grateful for the 'courtesy' of being informed about the results.

Back in March, the Lib Dems demanded that the Council consult properly during the months that remained with all the resident associations, Parish Councils and campaign groups that are active in the District. That is the only way  to get these plans right and to test out what could be supported. After all, many people agree that new and affordable housing is desperately needed, but they are also insisting that  improvements in our transport, health and education services should come with them.

These Council plans will determine the shape and quality of our communities for many decades to come. Getting them right is critical for the future of our local environment and the economic vitality of our part of Kent. And, without the necessary infrastructure investment, they are not viable. 

So far, more than 3 months later, there has been no dialogue, no collaboration and no proper consultation.

The Council's next version of their plans will be published on Monday 22nd June.

The results of the public consultation on the draft Sevenoaks Local Plan have been published, showing residents oppose every major development proposal put forward by the Council. Sevenoaks Liberal Democrats have written an open letter to Council leaders calling for a change of direction.

Key points from our letter:

• The consultation results are decisive — public support for the current plan does not exist and the Council must respond
• The status quo carries serious risk — without a change of approach, Sevenoaks faces either a failed Local Plan process or an unpopular plan imposed without consent
• A new consensus is achievable, based on four principles:
  • Sevenoaks needs a Local Plan — entering the new unitary era without one would disadvantage our District
  • New housing is needed, particularly affordable homes and social rent properties
  • Infrastructure commitments must be detailed and delivered in parallel with development
  • The environment and design quality must be central to any new plan
• Cross-party cooperation is essential — the Council must create new mechanisms for genuine political and community dialogue

We are calling on all Council groups to meet urgently to explore a new, consensus-based approach to the Local Plan.

Sevenoaks District Council has confirmed the timetable for the next stages of its controversial Local Plan, with an analysis of the recent public consultation due to be published in March.

The Council closed its seven-week consultation on the Local Plan 2042 on December 11.Around 5,000 people and organisations took part. The Plan proposes sites for 17,175 new homes up to 2042, including major developments on Green Belt land.

The Council’s Development & Infrastructure Advisory Committee (DIAC) will be briefed on the results of the consultation at its meeting on March 5^th. The Committee is only ‘advisory’, and the Council’s leadership does not have to take account of its views.

The Regulation 19 version of the plan—the final draft before submission to government—will then go before DIAC on June 30^th and to the all-Conservative Cabinet on July 7th for its decision.

Following Cabinet approval, the Plan will be open for comment once more for a minimum of six weeks between July and September, though exact dates are yet to be confirmed. During this period, the public can submit views on the "soundness" of the plan. All these representations will be forwarded to the Planning Inspector with the Council’s proposals.

DIAC will receive an update on the Regulation 19 responses on September 8, before Full Council meets on December 1 to approve the final version of the Plan for submission.

The council must submit the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate before December 31, 2026, after which it will undergo examination, with public hearings expected in 2027.

Major developments proposed

The plan includes proposals for several major developments across the District:

A large site on the northern edge of Sevenoaks is proposed for 1,500 homes, identified as land east of London Road in Dunton Green and west of the Otford Road. The site lies between Dunton Green and Bat and Ball railway stations.

Pedham Place is proposed as a new standalone settlement with 2,579 new homes and 49,000 square metres of industry. The development, located near Swanley and Farningham, would span both parishes and has attracted significant public interest during consultations.

Near Pedham Place, a separate proposal for a 28,000-seater rugby stadium and associated training facilities is also under consideration.

In Edenbridge, multiple green belt sites are allocated for development, part of over 2100 new dwellings proposed under the plan. 

The plan proposes developments across the district's four main towns—Sevenoaks, Swanley, Edenbridge and Westerham—as well as other settlements including Hartley, Hextable, Otford and New Ash Green.

Read about Sevenoaks Liberal Democrats' position on the Local Plan here

Sevenoaks District Council has agreed that protection of the district's rivers must be built into its emerging Local Plan, following a successful Liberal Democrat proposal at Tuesday's council meeting.

The motion - passed on 18 November - commits the council to ensuring the sustainable health of all rivers across Sevenoaks District as the Local Plan develops.

While the exact wording of this commitment is yet to be determined, the instruction to planning officers is clear: river protection must be a core element of the plan that will shape development across the district for years to come.

The decision comes as the council's draft Local Plan attempts to identify sites for 17,000 new homes across the district, with a public consultation running until 11 December 2025.

Liberal Democrats have set out four key tests for the Local Plan, including proper infrastructure support from day one. This latest commitment on river health strengthens that demand, ensuring that new development cannot proceed at the expense of our natural environment.

The move also reflects Liberal Democrat priorities at both national and county level, where the party has committed to working with water companies to reduce pollution in Kent rivers and ensure all beaches are fit for swimming.

With the consultation's 11 December 2025 deadline approaching, residents are encouraged to have their say on the Local Plan at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/emerginglocalplan.

The Conservative failure to produce a viable Sevenoaks Local Plan over many years has left our District vulnerable to inappropriate development and higher government housing targets.

Putting a positive Local Plan in place is urgent and necessary business for the Council.

Like thousands of residents, we will assess the new Plan's proposals against clear priorities for our communities.

Will it deliver the housing we really need, particularly the affordable and social housing that local families and communities are crying out for?

Does it include investment plans for transport, water, health and other infrastructure that measure up to our needs, protect the environment and are properly funded?

Are the planned new housing developments shared fairly around the District, and not focussed on locations that are just easier or more profitable for developers?

And, finally, will the Council's own consultation process measure up to the seriousness of these issues? 

As Liberal Democrats, we want the Council to engage and listen to all local opinion, and give everyone the right to help shape their own futures in the best way possible. This must not be a top-down exercise."