Following the closure of the Call for Sites submission period, Maidstone Borough Council is providing further information about the next stage of the process.

The submitted sites will now be assessed as part of a wider evidence base that will inform the preparation of the borough's new Local Plan, with no decisions yet made on whether any site will be allocated for development.

The Call for Sites is a standard and important stage in the planning process used by councils across the country. It provides an opportunity for landowners, developers, community organisations, residents and other stakeholders to identify land they believe could help meet future needs across the borough. Submissions can relate to a wide range of uses, including housing, employment, retail, leisure, community facilities, infrastructure and green spaces.

Over the initial 10-week submission period, the council received 183 site submissions from 107 respondents. The sites were submitted for a variety of potential uses, including housing, employment, Gypsy and Traveller pitches and Local Green Space. Each submission will now be subject to detailed technical assessment and the submission of a site does not indicate that it will be allocated for development.

Importantly, the submission of a site does not mean it will be developed, allocated in a Local Plan, or granted planning permission. The purpose of the exercise is to ensure the council has a comprehensive understanding of potential opportunities and constraints across the borough, allowing future decisions to be based on evidence rather than speculation.

The Call for Sites process is about gathering information, not making decisions. The council's spatial planners will lead an objective, technical Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA), drawing on the expertise of planning, transport, ecology, flooding and drainage, minerals and waste, education, infrastructure and other specialists. This work will identify the risks, opportunities and relationships between sites and the infrastructure and services needed to support them.

The assessment will take place in stages. It will begin with evidence gathering, followed by an initial assessment of each site's suitability, availability and achievability. Sites that remain under consideration will then be reviewed in greater detail, including whether potential impacts could be appropriately addressed. This is a thorough and time-consuming technical process, and no decisions about Local Plan allocations will be made through the Call for Sites exercise itself.

Water availability, wastewater capacity, flood risk and drainage will form part of this assessment. These matters will be considered alongside the relevant planning and legal requirements, with input from the appropriate infrastructure providers and technical specialists.

The council has also stressed that continuing to gather evidence remains important as local government reorganisation progresses. Developing a robust evidence base now will help ensure that future planning decisions, whether taken by the current authority or its successor, are informed by clear, up-to-date information about the borough's needs, opportunities and constraints.

Councillor Tony Harwood, Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure, said: "Good planning starts with good evidence. The Call for Sites gives our spatial planners and technical experts the space to properly identify the risks, opportunities and wider implications associated with each site. It is not a commitment to development and does not predetermine any outcome.

"We want to use the planning system positively to secure long-term protection for our communities, landscapes and wildlife, while supporting viable and sustainable employment and housing development with the critical infrastructure it needs.

"The borough is required to plan for the level of growth set by government. By developing a strong Local Plan based on robust evidence, we can shape where and how that growth happens. Without an up-to-date plan, the borough would be more vulnerable to unplanned, speculative development.

"We recognise that maps showing submitted sites may generate discussion and concern. However, these are sites put forward for technical assessment, not approved developments. Any site considered for possible allocation would be subject to further evidence, public consultation and formal decision-making."

This evidence-led approach will help Maidstone plan positively for homes and employment while protecting communities, landscape and wildlife and ensuring that growth is supported by appropriate infrastructure.

More information can be found, and sites viewed, via the Call for Sites webpage: Call for Sites 2026.

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