Southborough and High Brooms
Neighbourhood Development Plan
Update – August 2026
Our Neighbourhood Plan is now 'made'!
At the Referendum on 18 June 2026 more that 50% of the votes were in favour of the Southborough and High Brooms Neighbourhood Development Plan 2024 – 2038 (SHBNDP). As a result it was 'made' by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council at the Full Council meeting on 15 July 2026. It now has full weight and forms part of the statutory Development Plan for Southborough Parish.
As such, it is a key policy document in the determination of planning applications for development in Southborough and High Brooms. Residents and developers considering submitting planning applications for the Southborough Parish should check the policies and guidance in this Neighbourhood Plan when preparing their applications.
The Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed on the Borough Council's website. Please note that the Design Guidance and Codes documents form part of this “made” Neighbourhood Plan and are provided in 2 separate documents for ease of access.
The Southborough and High Brooms Neighbourhood Plan includes policies for:
Location & Character of development - defining character areas to encourage better designed developments that maintain and support each area’s distinct and valued qualities.
Design Standards - setting out detailed standards to support energy efficiency, sustainability, biodiversity and environmental protection.
Green Spaces and Views – describing why these local green spaces and views are special to+ the community and safeguarding them for future generations.
Heritage Assets - identifying local heritage assets to conserve and celebrate the area’s history.
Support for businesses - supporting established and new local business, including our shops, leisure/recreational facilities and creative industries, to deliver economic vitality and an engaging user experience.
This dedicated website (shbndp.com) will be closing later this summer and a Neighbourhood Plan page will be created on the Southborough Town Council website to ensure wide visibility of the policies and guidance.