Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) published the timetable for the review of its Local Plan in July, and the first of three consultations in the process closed on 11 August.
This first consultation was on the scope of the Local Plan Review and included two consultation documents:
Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Plan Review Scoping Document July 2026
and Save Capel’s response can be viewed here.
Our response is very much consistent with the key themes we challenged in the previous Local Plan’s preparation –including infrastructure, flood risk, and appropriate scale for rural areas – as well as an explicit rejection of any return of plans for Tudeley Village which may come out of the current Call For Sites. We also majored on the dreadful experience of residents both in Capel and throughout the Borough with interrupted water supplies this year…. and the public comments of South East Water in its responses to neighbouring Tonbridge & Malling to the effect that they will be unable to deliver a reliable water supply to the number of homes envisaged in its Local Plan.
We were clear that no new housing should be approved without written assurances from critical infrastructure service providers – including South East Water – that they will be able to deliver services to all new planned houses. This should also apply to sewerage, which for Capel brings Southern Water into the equation.
The Review Process
TWBC’s timetable – which may change –envisages that the second consultation, on the proposed Local Plan content and evidence will run between 2 Match 2027 and 15 April 2027.
The third consultation – in the proposed Local Plan itself – is scheduled to run between 30 November 2027 and 28 January 2028.
Save Capel has made its feelings known to TWBC that the first consultation timing caused some disruption to summer holiday plans, the second runs over Christmas and the New Year and the third runs over Easter. TWBC replied that they have added some time to the consultation periods, not enough in our view and they still run over holiday periods, but there we are.
Call For Sites
TWBC has recently extended its Call For Sites, the responses to which will be the starting point for the Council’s Local Plan Revision planning, from 3 August to 28 September 2026.
Save Capel will await the publication of the results of this with some trepidation, given the experience of the previous allocation of development sites throughout the Borough and its lopsided and unfair allocation to Capel, compared to other parishes and wards in the Borough.
We will in particular be alert to any proposal for Tudeley Garden Village (TGV) in modified form, as well as any new proposed developments in (a.) Capel and (b.) its neighbouring parishes and wards.
All Capel residents should be aware that the success in having TGV removed from the Tunbridge Wells adopted Local Plan last December may be at risk when the Call For Sites responses are published – in which event the Save Capel campaign may need to re-energise as vigorously as it ever has in the past.
Save Capel’s Positioning
We will maintain the position set out in our response linked above, throughout the Review process – especially with regard to:
- Any proposed return of the Tudeley Village idea if that comes out of the Call For Sites
- The ongoing and current development applications by Crest and Dandara in East Capel, following the adoption of the current Local Plan.
Any new proposals within Capel will be assessed for appropriateness by reference to the criteria we have applied in the past and will continue to apply – including scale, locality, infrastructure (including roads and education) and flood risk.
What do Save Capel believe TWBC need to do next?
We have made constructive recommendations and requests of TWBC throughout our Response, seeking to ensure that the Review is based on up-to-date information, and that the learnings of the previous Local Plan process are applied in this Review. Included in these are:
- That there is no return of Tudeley Village.
- That South East Water is added to TWBC’s list of named infrastructure stakeholders.
- That sewerage is given as much scrutiny as water supply
- That TWBC is true to its Vision – specifically for Capel – that “For other settlements, to retain their essential local character, with high-quality, sustainable development that reflects their environmental context, infrastructure and site circumstances, having due regard to local needs.”
So, What Happens Next?
It could take two or three months for TWBC to finish their review of the Scoping Consultation Submissions. It’s clear that the fight will go on through the Local Plan Review, we just don’t yet know what shape or form that will take. As soon as we do, we’ll let you know.
In the mean-time the Executive will review our previous work on alternative sites. We want to help TWBC see that they need a better, achievable Plan, without again allocating the biggest and disproportionate burden on Capel Parish.
Our external advisors continue to generous and insightful with their assistance and providing the campaign with excellent value for money. We have funds promised through our Pledge Scheme, and we will be asking existing pledges to be renewed for 2027 nearer the end of this year. We will also monitor developments in the revised Local Plan for the potential need to seek additional pledges, later in the process.
SAVE CAPEL – SOME CHANGES IN OUR EXECUTIVE, AND THE WAY FORWARD FOR SAVE CAPEL
There have been some changes and developments at Save Capel that we wish to update all our supporters on, and also some ideas for its future that we would like to share before we convene our Annual General Meeting.
Save Capel Executive – Stewart Gledhill and Charlie Keeling
As you know, Save Capel’s Executive has in recent years been led by Stewart Gledhill, since 2021 as Chair. Stewart has been a member of SCE’s Executive since Save Capel’s inception in 2019. Throughout this time, Stewart has devoted a significant amount of his time and energy driving our campaign, through leadership of the Executive, analysing developments in the Local Plan and local planning applications, attending TWBC meetings, managing Save Capel’s finances and use of advisers, engaging with local politicians and counsellors, and much much more – all to keep Save Capel’s name and perspective relevant, visible and noticed.
Stewart has decided to step back from his Chairmanship and membership of Save Capel’s Executive at this point and all of us wish to thank him sincerely and applaud his successful tenure – a highlight of which was his and Save Capel’s contribution to the removal of TGV from the Tunbridge Wells adopted Local Plan last December.
Similarly, Charlie Keeling has also decided that it’s time to step back from his membership of Save Capel’s Executive. Charlie has served on Save Capel’s Executive since 2020. His contribution has also been huge – including attending Council meetings, drafting and management of newsletters and other Save Capel conmmunications, and very importantly providing an insight of what’s happening at our neighbouring Borough Council in its plans. We will continue to keep in touch occasionally on proposed developments in Hadlow and Higham Wood that may potentially impact infrastructure in Capel.
Following Stewart and Charlie’s departures, Ian Pattenden has stepped up from Vice Chair to Chair, and Chris Wise has assumed a role as co-ordinator of Save Capel Executive’s activities, central to which is keeping on top of and responding to Local Plan developments. The other Save Capel Executive members remain Mark Colyer, Maggie Fenton and Jan Mueller.
Opportunity to apply for Save Capel Executive membership
Stewart and Charlie’s departures reduce the membership of the Save Capel Executive to five. Our Constitution allows for up to seven members. We are therefore considering options for successors to Stewart and Charlie as members of the Save Capel Executive. As we enter the Tunbridge Wells Local Plan Review process, we would like to take this opportunity to ask for anyone who is invested in Capel’s future to consider joining us. We are open to any applications, including from non-Capel residents if they are local and have an affinity to and awareness of Capel. Applications from potential Executive members in their 20s or 30s, female or male, would be particularly welcome to ensure a representative spread of views on the Executive. In the meantime, current Executive members are making some direct approaches alongside this wider appeal for applications.
Save Capel Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AGM will be convened before the end of 2026. The meeting will not be scheduled until after September so that the meeting may consider:
- Any proposed new Save Capel Executive members proposed for election;
- Any news from TWBC following the Scoping Consultation and potentially, the Call for Sites;
- A recommendation to commit to a review of the future of Save Capel within 3 months of the adoption of the Revised Local Plan by TWBC, currently scheduled by TWBC at the end of April 2029.
In Closing
This campaign has now been running for seven years. Your generosity and support have enabled Save Capel to to successfully fight the outrageous Local Plan which TWBC devised in 2019. Our aim was to stop 4,000 houses being built in Capel Parish:
- The deletion of TGV in the Plan accounts for 2,800 of them. THAT IS A MASSIVE SUCCESS, and we continue to fight to ensure that Hadlow Estate’s aspirations never come to fruition.
- Most of the reduction of a further 1,000 homes in PW/EC has been secured, and we will continue to fight against any unsustainable development there.
We’ve come a long way. We should all be proud of what we have achieved so far. The battle recommences and we continue to count on your support!
As ever, the Save Capel Executive would like to thank you all for your continuing support.
Please contact us via email to savecapel@gmail.com
Ian, Maggie, Chris, Jan, and Mark
