Local authority looks to strengthen planning team to progress local plan work
A local authority is looking to strengthen its planning team as it prepares a new local plan.
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council director of planning, environmental health and housing Steve Humphrey told Planning: “This is a diverse area incorporating parts of the North Downs and High Weald area of outstanding natural beatury and the River Medway valley.
"A big driver is residential development: we have had the strongest residential growth in Kent for the last couple of years and, no doubt, will have for some years to come.
"There is also a high degree of business investment in places such as Kings Hill business park and around the M20 corridor.
"But there is also countryside: 70 per cent of the borough is green belt land and there is the dilemma of planning for growth without impacting badly on the beautiful countryside."
The council is seeking to recruit a head of planning to help deliver a new local plan, “which we are limbering up and is at the evidence stage”, said Humphrey.
“We are improving the function of the development management team and the new head will balance major development and environmental issues and champion efficiency and quality in our service.”
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