Heathlands Garden Settlement SPD

There was a consultation on the draft Heathlands SPD between 3rd November 2025 - 15th December 2025. Representations to the consultation can be found on the link below.

View responses to Heathlands Garden Settlement SPD Consultation

The final version of the SPD will be presented to Committee for consideration and then to Cabinet to consider adoption of the SPD. The Committee report can be viewed here.

Why we are consulting

The Heathlands Garden Settlement is a strategic site allocated in the Maidstone Local Plan Review 2021–2038 (LPR).

Whilst the principle of the development has therefore been set in the LPR, the LPR requires the Council to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document for Heathlands, which will provide guidance for future planning applications on how to apply the Maidstone Local Plan Review Policy LPRSP4(A).

The SPD includes guidance on the allocation for new homes, employment land, a new primary and secondary schools, a new railway station, and supporting infrastructure.

The SPD cannot create new policies or add financial burdens that go beyond the LPR policies

How to get involved

We invite you to take part in this consultation on the draft SPD and appreciate you taking the time to do this. Your responses will help inform the preparation of a final SPD.

To view the draft SPD and supporting documents, and to submit your comments to the proposed material, please use the link below to:

• Our online consultation portal

If you are unable to access/ view the draft SPD and consultation statement, these will be available at the Council’s offices and local libraries. For locations and opening times for the inspection points, please see the FAQs page.

If you are unable to submit responses through the consultation platform, written responses may also be sent by email to ldf@maidstone.gov.uk or by post to:

• Strategic Planning, Maidstone Borough Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ

Consultation responses must be received by 23:59 on Monday 15 December 2025.

Heathlands Garden Settlement Drop In Sessions

Residents and businesses are being invited to drop-in sessions for the Heathlands Garden Settlement on Monday 17 November between 4:00pm to 7:00pm and Thursday 20 November 1:30pm to 5:00pm both in The Function Room at the Dog & Bear Hotel in Lenham, ME17 2PG. These sessions are designed as information sessions for people to drop in and stay for as long or as little as they wish; there will be no formal presentation. Comments and feedback should be submitted online or via email or post.

If you were unable to attend the drop in sessions, the information boards are available here.

What happens next

Your feedback will help shape the final SPD.

After the consultation period closes, we will:

• Review and analyse your response
• Make appropriate amendments to create a final SPD
• Present a final version of the SPD to Committee for consideration and then to Cabinet to consider adoption of the SPD

Once adopted, the SPD will become an important material consideration when determining future planning applications for the Heathlands Garden Settlement.

Consultation compliance

Consultation is consistent with Planning Regulations and the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).

The draft SPDs will be made available on the Council’s website and hard copies will be placed at inspection points. The Council will publicise the consultations through press notices, social media and on its website. We will notify statutory bodies and people and organisations who have signed up to be contacted about planning policy consultation and council consultations.

Heathlands Garden Settlement Drop In Sessions

Residents and businesses are being invited to drop-in sessions for the Heathlands Garden Settlement on Monday 17 November between 4:00pm to 7:00pm and Thursday 20 November 1:30pm to 5:00pm both in The Function Room at the Dog & Bear Hotel in Lenham, ME17 2PG. These sessions are designed as information sessions for people to drop in and stay for as long or as little as they wish; there will be no formal presentation. Comments and feedback should be submitted online or via email or post by 23:59 on Monday 15 December 2025.

If you were unable to attend the drop in sessions, the information boards are available here.

Evidence base

Where relevant, the SPDs are support by information and evidence available below:

• Consultation Statement
• Screening Report for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA)
• Equalities Impact Assessment
• Heathlands Transport Assessment (Please click here to download the document)
• Heathlands Transport Annex
• Topic Papers

What is a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)?

A Supplementary Planning Document (or SPD) helps in the interpretation and application of existing policies in the Local Plan Review 2021-38 to help applicants make successful planning applications.

Once adopted, it becomes an important material planning consideration for the council when determining planning applications.

An SPD cannot create new policies or add financial burdens that go beyond the LPR policies.

SPDs for large sites need to be sufficiently flexible in their content, due to the length of time that large sites, such as Heathlands and Lidsing, take to be created.

Who decided to launch the draft Heathlands and Lidsing SPD consultations?

On the 14 October 2025, the Planning and Healthier Stronger Communities Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) recommended to Cabinet that the draft SPDs for Heathlands and Lidsing be consulted on. On 14 October 2025 Cabinet approved consultation on the two SPDs for a period of 6 weeks. A copy of the report can be found here.

When will the technical detail be provided?

The LPR and SPD set the framework for future planning applications and this includes the outline planning application which will be the next step. These planning applications will contain the extra level of technical detail to comply with the overall framework in the LPR and SPD.

How will the development bring forward the new railway station?

The statutory process of bringing forward the new railway station falls outside of the SPD remit as this involves Network Rail and the Department for Transport. This process is ongoing in order to facilitate the new station, as required by the LPR.

What impact will Heathlands have on the road network?

The transport assessment was undertaken for the LPR and was published as part of that. A further transport assessment has been undertaken as part of this SPD setting out details of the various forms of movement including transport movement. This is summarised in the transport annex which is published as part of the SPD consultation. It provides further information to complete the transport framework and highlights areas that will require further detail at the outline planning application stage.

Has the transport evidence for the SPD been agreed by the relevant highways authorities?

The highways authorities have acted as arbiters for all the transport work. They have steered its contents and signed it off and will continue to do so for all future transport work as this is their role.

Has infrastructure been considered?

MBC annually reviews their Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) which sets out the infrastructure needed to support growth at the site allocations in the LPR such as Lidsing and Heathlands. However, MBC is not a delivery partner, but is actively working with the infrastructure providers in this regard.

Where can I view a hard copy of the draft SPDs?

A hard copy will be available for inspection at the following locations:

Evidence base

Where relevant, the SPDs are support by information and evidence available below:

• Consultation Statement
• Screening Report for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA)
• Equalities Impact Assessment
• Heathlands Transport Assessment (Please click here to download the document)
• Heathlands Transport Annex
• Topic Papers

For further enquiries, please email LDF@maidstone.gov.uk or call 01622 602000.

The council is responsible for preparing and adopting the SPD and the site promoter has prepared their own webpage. The Council is not responsible for the content of their pages.