At the Regulation 19 stage, the council publishes the version of the plan it believes is ready to be submitted for independent examination. This is sometimes called the “publication” or “pre-submission” stage. It is a formal opportunity for people, organisations and other bodies to comment before the plan is sent to a government appointed Planning Inspector.
Comments at this stage should focus on whether the plan is legally compliant and “sound”. In simple terms, this means whether the plan has been prepared properly, is based on appropriate evidence, can realistically be delivered, and is consistent with national planning policy.
After the consultation closes, Sevenoaks District Council will submit the comments received to the Planning Inspectorate. The government Inspector will then examine the plan and decide whether it can be adopted, whether changes are needed, or whether there are issues that must be addressed before it can move forward.
Your comments matter because the inspector has the power to make changes. See the embedded PDF below for how you can comment.
The plan has now been launched for consultation, find it here.
Regulation 19 is scheduled to run from July 23 to September 17, 2026.
Our newsletter going out across Edenbridge gives some hand tips for getting your response in and doing it in a way that makes the difference.
Here are some very short videos (3-6 mins each) from the Planning Inspectorate (otherwise known as PINS) to take you through what to expect.