Kent housing development: Reserved Matters planning approval secured for 32 new homes in Swanley. Our Group provided the planning strategy, prepared the outline planning application, secured approval at appeal and provided guidance on design, access, drainage and landscaping.
What does the application deliver?
We have recently secured Reserved Matters planning approval for a development in Swanley, Kent, comprising 8 houses and 24 apartments – a total of 32 new homes. The submission addressed the reserved matters of layout, access, scale, appearance, landscaping and drainage, following the earlier outline consent.
What to do when the planning policy landscape changes between planning application submissions
We secured outline planning permission for the site at appeal, which unlocked its development potential. Following the appeal win, the planning context in Sevenoaks has shifted considerably. For example:
- The District Council does not have an up-to-date Local Plan, relying instead on policies dating back to 2011 and 2015.
- Following the revised NPPF (December 2024), the housing requirement rose from around 704 to 1,149 dwellings annually – an increase of 63%.
- The Housing Delivery Test result stands at 44%, which means that the presumption in favour of sustainable development is engaged.
- The Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, falling well short of national policy expectations.
- While the district is significantly constrained by Green Belt, this site sits outside this designation, reinforcing its suitability for residential use.
This evolving policy position places greater emphasis on the careful interpretation and application of the NPPF, particularly the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
How did we respond to planning policy shifts post-submission?
We worked closely with the Case Officer to refine the proposals, incorporating:
- Updated site plans to reflect urban design advice;
- A drainage assessment note meeting relevant requirements;
- An improved landscape plan following arboricultural input.
This collaborative process helped to ensure that the submission met policy requirements and was positively received. We are delighted that the full development potential of this site has been unlocked and that a quality housing scheme can now be realised.
What Ongoing Project Management Do We Provide?
Our involvement extends beyond securing permission. For projects of this nature, we provide:
- Pre-application advice to identify risks and opportunities;
- Ongoing engagement with council officers and consultees;
- Collaboration, review and submission of revised plans and supporting reports;
- Full project management through to implementation.
This approach supports clients in navigating the technical, design and policy challenges that arise from appeal-led and complex sites.
How we can help
At McLoughlin Planning, our simple objective is to get results for our clients by providing high-quality planning consultancy. Our team of chartered town planning consultants delivers strategic advice and planning solutions across southern England and Wales – from strategic land promotions and commercial premises to private developments and rural projects.
Since joining forces with Plainview Planning in 2024, our Group combines expertise across 13 planning professionals and support staff. This collaboration allows us to provide ingenious, commercially-minded solutions to a wide range of town planning challenges.
- For larger, strategic or complex projects (such as land promotions, multi-phase developments, aviation schemes), please contact our McLoughlin Planning team.
- For householder projects, developments of 10 units or fewer, or smaller independent commercial projects, our specialist Plainview Planning team can help.
Contact us
If you have a development project which would benefit from expert planning consultancy input, then feel free to view our full ‘About Us’ page to view which of our planning consultants best fit your needs and contact us through either our ‘Arrange a Call‘ tab on our contact page or via the email and telephone number provided below.
We value your privacy and any information which you provide will not be shared outside of our company and will only be used in relation to your enquiry.
As always, the content of this article was correct at the time of publication, but for the most up-to-date information on planning topics and policy queries, contact our team.
Polly Mason – Associate Director
- T: 01242 895008
- E: polly.mason@mplanning.co.uk
Project team
- LPA – Sevenoaks District Council
- McLoughlin Planning and Plainview Planning (Planning Consultants)
- Urban and Rural Ltd (Architect)
- Motion (Highways and Transport)
- Simpson Consulting Engineers (Engineering)
- Furse Landscape Architects Ltd (Landscape)
- LPA – Sevenoaks District Council
Image source: Urban and Rural
