Proposed Main Modifications to the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2024-39

The Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013-30 (KMWLP) was adopted in July 2016 and limited changes adopted in September 2020 resulting from an Early Partial Review (EPR). The separate Kent Mineral Sites Plan, which allocates three areas of land suitable for development associated with the extraction of sand and gravel, was also adopted in 2020. Together these documents form part of the Development Plan which represents the planning policy framework for minerals and waste development in Kent.

The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) state Local Plans should be reviewed at least once every five years to assess whether they need updating and should then be updated as necessary.

A statutory five-year review of the KMWLP began in 2021 which found that, while much of the Local Plan is still relevant, some updates are needed to respond to, amongst other things, changes in government policy and legislation since 2016.

Revisions are therefore proposed to the adopted KMWLP including changes to its Vision, Strategic Objectives, policies and supporting text. The proposed revisions were subject to an initial consultation with key stakeholders followed by three public consultations since 2021. A ‘Proposed Submission Draft’ of the Plan was published for representations in January 2024.

The Proposed Submission Draft Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2024-39 was submitted, with the representations received, to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination on 17 May 2024. The independent Inspector appointed to examine the Local Plan convened public hearings in September 2024 to consider the relevant Matters and Issues.

After considering representations made during the Regulation 19 consultation on the Local Plan, and following the public hearings in September 2024, the Inspector has identified a number of Main Modifications that she considers are required in order to ensure that the Local Plan is ‘sound’ (i.e. positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy) and legally compliant.

All information regarding the Examination can be found at Local Plan Examination page.

Tell us your views

We are now inviting representations on the soundness and legal compliance of the proposed Main Modifications to the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2024-39, along with the associated Sustainability Appraisal between Thursday 17 October to midnight on Thursday 28 November 2024. We have also produced a version of the KMWLP 2024-39 which shows the Main Modifications as tracked changes for context.

All representations received on the proposed Main Modifications will be shared with the Planning Inspector for consideration and will be made publicly available on our website with all personal data removed. Those received after the deadline will not be considered.

Before making representations on the proposed Main Modifications, we strongly advise you to read the Guidance Note. This process specifically invites representations on the soundness and legal compliance of the proposed Main Modifications. The guidance note explains the soundness tests and statutory plan making requirements relevant to this consultation.

A number of minor changes and updates are also proposed to be made to the Local Plan before it is adopted. These Additional (minor) Modifications have been identified by the Council as those which are necessary to improve presentation or to address or correct any typographical or factual errors, and are not necessary to resolve soundness or legal compliance issues. These Additional Modifications are published for information only and are outside the scope of the Main Modifications consultation as they are not being put before the Inspector for consideration.

Should you wish to view a hard copy of the consultation documents, a copy is available at Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday for the duration of the consultation.

You can comment on the legal compliance and soundness of the proposed Main Modifications by completing the representation form in the Document section.

You can upload the form or your written response by using the upload option below. You can also email or post your response to:

  • Email: mwlp@kent.gov.uk
  • Address: Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team, Planning Applications Group, Invicta House, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XX.

The Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013-30 (KMWLP) was adopted in July 2016 and limited changes adopted in September 2020 resulting from an Early Partial Review (EPR). The separate Kent Mineral Sites Plan, which allocates three areas of land suitable for development associated with the extraction of sand and gravel, was also adopted in 2020. Together these documents form part of the Development Plan which represents the planning policy framework for minerals and waste development in Kent.

The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) state Local Plans should be reviewed at least once every five years to assess whether they need updating and should then be updated as necessary.

A statutory five-year review of the KMWLP began in 2021 which found that, while much of the Local Plan is still relevant, some updates are needed to respond to, amongst other things, changes in government policy and legislation since 2016.

Revisions are therefore proposed to the adopted KMWLP including changes to its Vision, Strategic Objectives, policies and supporting text. The proposed revisions were subject to an initial consultation with key stakeholders followed by three public consultations since 2021. A ‘Proposed Submission Draft’ of the Plan was published for representations in January 2024.

The Proposed Submission Draft Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2024-39 was submitted, with the representations received, to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination on 17 May 2024. The independent Inspector appointed to examine the Local Plan convened public hearings in September 2024 to consider the relevant Matters and Issues.

After considering representations made during the Regulation 19 consultation on the Local Plan, and following the public hearings in September 2024, the Inspector has identified a number of Main Modifications that she considers are required in order to ensure that the Local Plan is ‘sound’ (i.e. positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy) and legally compliant.

All information regarding the Examination can be found at Local Plan Examination page.

Tell us your views

We are now inviting representations on the soundness and legal compliance of the proposed Main Modifications to the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2024-39, along with the associated Sustainability Appraisal between Thursday 17 October to midnight on Thursday 28 November 2024. We have also produced a version of the KMWLP 2024-39 which shows the Main Modifications as tracked changes for context.

All representations received on the proposed Main Modifications will be shared with the Planning Inspector for consideration and will be made publicly available on our website with all personal data removed. Those received after the deadline will not be considered.

Before making representations on the proposed Main Modifications, we strongly advise you to read the Guidance Note. This process specifically invites representations on the soundness and legal compliance of the proposed Main Modifications. The guidance note explains the soundness tests and statutory plan making requirements relevant to this consultation.

A number of minor changes and updates are also proposed to be made to the Local Plan before it is adopted. These Additional (minor) Modifications have been identified by the Council as those which are necessary to improve presentation or to address or correct any typographical or factual errors, and are not necessary to resolve soundness or legal compliance issues. These Additional Modifications are published for information only and are outside the scope of the Main Modifications consultation as they are not being put before the Inspector for consideration.

Should you wish to view a hard copy of the consultation documents, a copy is available at Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday for the duration of the consultation.

You can comment on the legal compliance and soundness of the proposed Main Modifications by completing the representation form in the Document section.

You can upload the form or your written response by using the upload option below. You can also email or post your response to:

  • Email: mwlp@kent.gov.uk
  • Address: Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team, Planning Applications Group, Invicta House, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XX.