Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make a statement on how Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council can produce a Local Plan which meets the Government housing targets, in the context of the objection from South East Water.

National planning policy makes clear that local plans should be positively prepared and, as a minimum, seek to meet identified development needs.

Local planning authorities are expected to do all they reasonably can to meet need, including working proactively with infrastructure providers (including water providers) to align growth and infrastructure provision. If needs cannot be met, the authority must clearly and robustly explain the reasons during the plan examination.

The approach the authority has taken, including how it engaged with infrastructure providers, will be a key consideration for the independent Inspector in evaluating whether the local plan can be found ‘sound’.

Officials across the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working in partnership with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to explore supply and demand interventions to progress both current planning applications and local plan development.