Statement of Community Involvement

Adoption of a new Statement of Community Involvement

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council adopted a new Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) on 22 October 2026 following public consultation and approval from Cabinet.

The SCI sets out how the Council will involve residents, businesses, developers, landowners, statutory organisations and other interested parties in planning matters, including the determination of planning applications.

This document replaces the Council's previous Statement of Community Involvement adopted in 2020.

Status of the Statement of Community Involvement

The Government introduced a new plan-making system through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 25 March 2026. Under the new legislation, local planning authorities are no longer required to prepare and maintain a Statement of Community Involvement. Instead, authorities must demonstrate how they will undertake consultation and engagement as part of the new local plan-making process by preparing and publishing an ‘Engagement Strategy’.

The Council has prepared a Local Plan Review Engagement Strategy, which sets out how we will engage with communities and stakeholders during the preparation of the Local Plan. The Engagement Strategy replaces the role previously fulfilled by the Statement of Community Involvement with regard to plan-making. However, the adopted SCI will remain in place alongside the Engagement Strategy to ensure engagement on all aspects of planning are covered, including on planning applications.

Related documents:

Stay informed about future consultations

As the Council prepares the new plan through months 1 – 30 (beginning November 2026), the Council will also provide updates to anyone included on the planning policy consultation database. The planning policy consultation database consists of individuals, organisations and interested bodies who are kept informed of emerging policy formulation.

Anyone who wishes to be kept informed of Local Plan updates and upcoming consultation activities can be added to the database or their existing details amended by contacting the Planning Policy team on 01892 554056 or by email planning.policy@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.

All data stored and published will be compliant with the Council’s Privacy and Data Protection policies.

As explained above, the Scoping Consultation asked for feedback on how people wished us to engage with them during the plan-making process. Responses received have informed the Engagement Strategy.