Sevenoaks planning news
Sevenoaks planning news, newest first: applications, appeals and committee decisions across the district, each story linked back to the council file.
Top story
Sevenoaks School boarding house: listed consent granted
Consent for 18 en-suite bedrooms, lifts and links through six listed High Street houses was granted on 10 August, over the council's own conservation officer and the Town Council. The full application is still undecided.
More stories
Sevenoaks
1,500 homes north of Sevenoaks: what the brief promises
A new two-form primary school with nursery, a bigger Dunton Green Primary, a bus link between the stations, a one-way Rye Lane and a floodplain park: the brief for the district's biggest site. Comment by 17 September.
Sevenoaks
Brittains Lane 284 homes: residents' walk on 23 August
Three residents' associations are walking the fields off Brittains Lane on Sunday 23 August, where the draft Local Plan earmarks 284 homes on two grey belt sites. Comments close 17 September.
Westerham
Westerham padel courts planned for King George's Field
Westerham Town Council says operator Padel Up will fully fund padel courts and a half basketball court on the town's playing field, at no cost to the taxpayer. No planning application has been lodged yet.
Council
Sevenoaks planning applications: 43 lodged to 7 August
43 applications hit the Sevenoaks register in the week to 7 August, led by a Green Belt traveller site at Horton Kirby. Comments on it close 27 August.
Otford
Otford by-election: green belt slate sweeps all three seats
All three Otford Parish Council seats went to Save Otford's Green Belt candidates on 23 July, on a 31.6% turnout, as the village fights a 203-home allocation.
Sevenoaks
Ashgrove Road Sevenoaks: farm access refusal now on appeal
The council refused a new farm access onto Ashgrove Road in February for want of evidence the land is farmed. The appeal started on 27 May and is undecided.
Otford
Homes plan for car park behind Otford High Street leads week's planning list
A permission-in-principle bid for up to four homes on a car park behind Otford High Street is the only new housing proposal among 22 planning applications validated across the Sevenoaks district in the week to 31 July 2026.
Council
A 20m phone mast for Westerham among 38 planning applications lodged this week
A 20-metre telecoms monopole at Westerham Bowls Club leads the 38 planning applications validated across the Sevenoaks district in the week to 24 July, alongside new homes at Crockenhill and a warehouse demolition at Otford.
Council
Councillors approve the £40m Land East loan after a bid for more oversight is defeated
Sevenoaks councillors have signed off a loan facility of up to £40m with Wates for the Land East of the High Street scheme. An amendment to bring the final agreement back to Council was voted down.
Housing
Local Plan consultation opens on 23 July: how to have your say on 17,460 homes
The final public consultation on Sevenoaks District Council's Local Plan opens on Thursday 23 July and runs eight weeks to 17 September. Here is the council's confirmed portal, email and postal address for comments, and how to make yours count.
Council
Sevenoaks committee defies officers on Underriver stables
Councillors went against officers on 9 July, saying an Underriver stable block would harm the National Landscape. Badgers Mount and Riverhead were granted.
Council
Councillors decide tonight on the £40m loan for the Land East regeneration
Sevenoaks Full Council meets on 14 July to sign off a loan of up to £40m for the Land East of the High Street scheme, a new leisure centre, homes and public realm to be built with Wates. Here is exactly what councillors are being asked to approve.
Housing
Cabinet approves final Local Plan consultation: how to have your say from 23 July
Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet has approved its revised Local Plan for a final public consultation, giving residents until 17 September to comment on 17,460 planned homes. Here is how to respond.
Housing
Work starts on 60 homes at the old White Oak Leisure Centre site in Swanley
Building has begun on 60 homes on part of the former White Oak Leisure Centre site in Swanley. The council-backed scheme, built by Skillcrown, helps pay back the cost of the £22m leisure centre that opened in 2022.
Council
Green belt homes at Badgers Mount head to Sevenoaks planning committee on 9 July
Two homes at Badgers Mount, a much-altered house at Riverhead and a stable block at Underriver all go before Sevenoaks councillors on 9 July. Officers recommend all three for approval, each called in by a ward councillor.
Council
Edenbridge 135-home green belt scheme granted by Sevenoaks committee
Sevenoaks councillors granted outline permission for up to 135 homes on green belt land south of Phillippines Close, Edenbridge, after lawyers warned that deferring the decision would be a material error of law. The draft minutes confirm the outcome.
Housing
Sevenoaks Local Plan: 17,460 homes, 810 at Broke Hill
The revised Sevenoaks Local Plan raises the housing target to 17,460 homes and adds Broke Hill golf course, Brittains Lane and 160 London Road as new sites.
Council
Sevenoaks planning committee, 18 June: 3 of 4 granted
Councillors granted eight Traveller pitches at Farningham, up to nine homes at Ash and a Halstead extension on 18 June. Edenbridge's 135 homes await a decision.
Council
Cabinet appoints Wates to deliver new Sevenoaks leisure centre and town-centre scheme
Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet has appointed Wates as preferred contractor for the £138m Land East of the High Street regeneration, with a new leisure centre, homes and a market hall. Full Council votes on the funding on 14 July.
Council
Ash Church End: nine homes back before councillors
Officers backed up to nine homes on green belt at Church End, Ash Road, three months after refusing a near-identical scheme over a high-pressure gas pipeline.
Council
Land East Sevenoaks: Wates picked, £40m loan on table
Officers asked Cabinet to appoint Wates for the land east of Sevenoaks High Street and back a £40m loan for a new leisure centre, homes and public realm.
Council
Farningham Traveller site: backed after 2023 refusal
Officers backed eight Gypsy and Traveller pitches at Farningham Hill Stud, A20, two years after refusing an identical scheme, citing a 181-pitch shortfall.
Council
Edenbridge 135 homes: officers back plan, 151 objections
Planning officers recommended up to 135 homes on green belt south of Phillippines Close, Edenbridge, despite 151 objections. Councillors granted it on 18 June.
Council
Sevenoaks planning applications: 30 lodged in a week
Thirty planning applications were validated across the Sevenoaks district in the week from 1 June 2026, led by outline housing at New Ash Green and Kemsing.
Council
Councillors refuse 235-acre New Ash Green solar farm despite £400,000 appeal warning
Sevenoaks councillors have refused a 72,000-panel solar farm on 235 acres between Ridley and New Ash Green, voting against their own planning officers' advice and a developer warning of a £400,000 cost award at appeal.
Council
Sevenoaks planning decisions: two new-build schemes refused, Oakhill Road revamp approved
Sevenoaks councillors refused two residential schemes and approved a house revamp at their 21 May meeting, turning down five flats off St James Road and two homes at Bessels Green. Here is what was decided and what it means for residents.
Housing
Sevenoaks planning news: 1,145 new homes a year target
Sevenoaks faces a Government target of 1,145 new homes a year. What the emerging Local Plan proposes, when you can comment, and what it means for your area.
Council
Sevenoaks Planning Portal: Direct Link, 21 Days to Object
Search any Sevenoaks application by postcode or reference on Public Access, free and with no account. You get 21 days to comment; what actually counts is set out here.