Issue details

Proposed decision

KCC to approve relevant arrangements to act as host authority for and participate in the incoming Kent & Medway Strategic Planning Board

Reason for the decision

-      Required in response to the proposed Kent and Medway Strategic Planning Board Regulations 2026 which will establish a Strategic Planning Board for Kent and Medway, relating to the preparation of the Kent and Medway Spatial Development Strategy under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025).

Background

-      In the English Devolution White Paper 2024, the Government set out its intention to reintroduce strategic planning and place a duty on all areas - regardless of the pace of Local Government Reorganisation or Devolution - to prepare sub regional Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs) across England. 

-      The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (amending the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004) establishes the relevant legislative framework and provisions which place a duty on combined authorities, combined county authorities, upper-tier councils and unitary authorities to prepare a Spatial Development Strategy for their area. 

-      The legislation also provides the Secretary of State the power to establish Strategic Planning Boards to prepare SDSs on behalf of specified groupings of these authorities.  Kent and Medway is a recognised and well-established geography and is highly likely to be confirmed as one of these groupings when the Government publishes its response to a consultation on proposed geographies across England in winter 2026.

-      If a Mayoral Strategic Authority is established for Kent and Medway, the statutory function and responsibility for preparing the Kent and Medway Spatial Development Strategy would transfer to that Authority.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

-      The legislation does not allow Kent County Council and Medway Council to voluntarily establish a joint committee, with the proposed Kent and Medway Strategic Planning Board Regulations 2026 creating a Board that Kent County Council will be part of. Once established, the Strategic Planning Board will need to consider appropriate representation from the districts in Kent as the local planning authorities with a duty to prepare Local Plans which will need to be in general conformity with the adopted Kent and Medway Spatial Development Strategy.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

-      Aim 4: ‘Building better communities’, Objective 5: ‘Ensure that the infrastructure needs of the county to support economic growth and quality of life are fully in place’:

“Building on the Kent and Medway Infrastructure Framework, ensure the new Spatial Development Strategy fully captures Kent’s strategic infrastructure needs and delivers a requirement into the planning system to deliver infrastructure first.”