Tonbridge and Aylesford schemes get green light as planning committee debates parking and viability concerns

A meeting of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council's Planning Committee, held at the Council Chamber in Kings Hill, worked through a series of significant applications across the borough, approving two major schemes and deferring a third amid concerns over parking provision. The meeting also touched on a large outline application for up to 350 homes at a Tonbridge nursery site.

The most contentious item concerned 2-12 Avebury Avenue in Tonbridge, where developers sought approval to alter and extend an existing building to create 34 apartments alongside refurbishment of an existing gym. The application had already been through the committee once before, having previously been resolved for approval subject to a Section 106 agreement — but it returned to members after the applicant declined to sign up to a "late-stage financial viability review mechanism" that would have required further payments if the scheme turned out to be more profitable than expected once built.

Members did not hide their unease. According to the minutes, councillors "expressed disappointment and concern regarding the removal of the late-stage financial viability review mechanism," alongside the scheme's lack of affordable housing and reduced developer contributions. However, officers advised that there was no strong enough policy basis to insist on the review or refuse the scheme outright, and legal advice reiterated that the identity of the applicant is not normally a material planning consideration. The application was ultimately granted by 12 votes to one, with the standard three-year window for starting work shortened to two years given the site's history and condition.

In Aylesford, a proposed retirement home for 50 residents on land south of St Andrews Close returned to committee after officers admitted that information given at an earlier meeting — which had led to a refusal — was incorrect. It has now been confirmed that St Andrews Close has in fact been adopted, and that refuse vehicle tracking now shows a bin lorry's cab would only brush the edge of the footway on the turn, not mount it as the committee had been told before. Despite this correction, and despite the Local Highway Authority raising no objection, members weren't convinced 38 proposed spaces would cover a retirement scheme likely to house active residents who keep cars of their own, on top of demand from visitors, carers and staff. Rather than refuse or approve outright, the committee voted unanimously to defer the application so officers can explore with the applicant whether extra parking can be squeezed in, potentially by sacrificing some landscaping.

A separate Aylesford application, for two commercial storage buildings on land north of Lodge Farmhouse on the High Street, was granted by the same 12-1 margin. Councillors raised concerns about heavy goods vehicle movements along the rural Bull Lane and through Aylesford and Eccles, given existing on-street parking and a weight restriction through the village, but were told the site's use and associated traffic had already been established under earlier permissions, and that the Local Highway Authority had no objection. Councillor Chapman asked for it to be recorded that he voted against the approval.

The committee also began considering a much larger outline application for up to 350 homes at Coblands Nursery on Trench Road, Tonbridge, supported by an Environmental Statement. The scheme as put forward includes 50% affordable housing, two vehicular access points, pedestrian and cycle links, and parking provision for the adjoining primary school. The source material provided to us breaks off before recording the committee's eventual decision on this application, so it is not yet clear whether it was approved, refused or deferred — we will update readers once further detail is available.

Several of the discussions referenced the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 17 August 2026, which officers confirmed did not introduce material considerations altering their recommendations on the Tonbridge and Aylesford commercial applications, though conditions on the Avebury Avenue approval will need updating to reflect the new framework. Source: Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council