Planning consultation
Sevenoaks Town Council is a statutory Consultee on all planning applications received within the Town. This means that it considers applications and makes recommendations to the relevant Planning Authority. The majority of applications are determined by Sevenoaks District Council, however certain types of development are determined by Kent County Council.
The Town Council considers most planning applications at its fortnightly Planning & Environment Committee meetings. For more information on how the Planning & Environment Committee functions, please view the Planning Committee Policies & Procedures document.
Where timescales do not allow the Town Council to consider the application at a planning committee meeting, comments may be made via a process known as ‘Chair’s Action’ which allows comments to be approved by the Chair of the Planning & Environment Committee, in consultation with the ward councillor and with approval of the Chief Executive who has delegated authority under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972.
Any members of the public who wish to made representation on an application which will be considered by the Town Council are encouraged to contact their local councillor or the council via [email protected] as soon as possible to ensure their views are taken on board. The Planning & Environment Committee also allows for members of the public to attend meetings and register to speak on planning applications or other agenda items, the latter of which is by prior agreement by 12 noon on the day of the meeting.
Highway Improvement Plan
Kent County Council is responsible for highway matters, including maintenance and safety of most public roads, pavements and other highway assets (such as zebra crossings).
Although Sevenoaks Town Council is not able to make decisions on such matters, it can lobby for highway improvements via its Highway Improvement Plan, which is a list of key priority projects reviewed and submitted for consideration of Kent County Council once a year. Kent County Council aim to deliver 1-2 of these per year, depending on viability and subject to sourcing funding.
The latest iteration of the Town Council’s Highway Improvement Plan, prepared by its Movement & Net Zero Working Group and approved on 30th March 2026, can be viewed via the below links. An information pack has also been provided by Kent County Council, summarising associated costs and requirements for frequently-requested projects – such as pedestrian crossings, speed limit changes, and new parking restrictions.
Sevenoaks Town Council’s Highway Improvement Plan 2026 – Full
Sevenoaks Town Council’s Highway Improvement Plan 2026 – Summary
Kent County Council Highway Improvement Plan Information Pack 2025/2026
