Call for Sites 2021

Message from Sevenoaks District Council - Planning Consultations

The emerging Local Plan is being reviewed to take account of new government guidance, updated housing requirements, the challenges of climate change and changes brought about by COVID-19. The review provides an opportunity to update our evidence base of potentially suitable and available land for a range of possible uses, which the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires us to keep up to date.

We have therefore launched a call for sites, and are inviting local residents, landowners, developers, businesses and other interested parties to submit sites for potential future development within Sevenoaks District. The Call for Sites is being undertaken in two stages:

Stage 1: The Council is requesting the submission of sites that are located within settlements and not in the Green Belt. The Stage 1 Call for Sites is now open.

Stage 2: Following an assessment of the Stage 1 outcomes, the Council will request the submission of sites located in the Green Belt. You will be able to submit sites fitting this criteria from 25 November 2021.

Please visit our website www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/callforsites for further information, including a handy Guidance Note. Sites can be submitted via the quick and easy online form or by downloading and completing a PDF form.

Please note that if you have previously submitted a site as part of the 2015-2018 Call for Sites, or even before then as part of the Core Strategy (2011) or Allocations and Development Management Plan (2015) you will need to submit your site again using the new form. This ensures we assess sites based on the most up to date information available.

The Stage 1 and Stage 2 Call for Sites will close at 5pm on 20 January 2022. Submissions will not be accepted after the closing date.

All submitted sites will then be assessed to determine their suitability for development – for example, whether they are subject to planning constraints. The deliverability and developability of sites will also be considered. Further information about the assessment of sites will be made available on the Council’s website.

If you have any further queries or questions in relation to the Call for Sites please email the Planning Policy Team at sites@sevenoaks.gov.uk or call 01732 227000.

SEVENOAKS DISTRICT CHARACTER STUDY

To identify and enhance the character of the District, Sevenoaks District Council is running a three-week survey to find out what residents think about where they live.

The Council is preparing a character study that aims to document the history, people, landscape, streets and buildings of the District and how they make the area special. As a starting point, an interactive map, called a ‘Storymap’, has been produced, which residents are being asked for their views on. The responses from participants will be incorporated into a new study that will be used as part of the local planning process. We hope you will contribute to the character study and help build up a picture of each unique part of the District.

The survey runs from 18 October to 8 November 2021. Visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/sdcs to complete the survey. If you would like to stay involved, please leave your email address at the bottom of the online survey.

Telephone or paper surveys are available for people without internet access by calling 01732 227000 or emailing planning.policy@sevenoaks.gov.uk.

What happens next?

Following the survey, there will be an online workshop on Wednesday 17 November 2021, 5:30– 7pm. Visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/sdcs for more information.

A follow-up workshop is planned in mid-January 2022. This will result in a report and the completed Storymap detailing the findings of the character study in February 2022.

Should you have any queries regarding the Sevenoaks District Character Study, please do not hesitate to contact the Strategic Planning Team on 01732 227000 or please email planning.policy@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Yours faithfully

The Strategic Planning Team

Sevenoaks District Council