Maidstone Borough Council is inviting residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in the consultation for t…Have Your Say on the Lidsing Garden Community Draft Supplementary Planning Document (Monday 3 November – Monday 15 December)Maidstone Borough Council is inviting residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in the consultation for the:

• Lidsing Garden Community Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)The consultation will run from Monday 3 November to 23:59 on Monday 15 December 2025, and we welcome your input.

Why we are consulting.  

The Lidsing Garden Community is a strategic site allocated in the Maidstone Local Plan Review 2021–2038 (LPR).The LPR requires the Council to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document for Lidsing, which will provide guidance for future planning applications on how to apply the Maidstone Local Plan Review Policy LPRSP4(B).The SPD includes guidance on the allocation for new homes, employment land, a new primary school, highway improvements, and supporting infrastructure.  The SPD cannot create new policies or add financial burdens that go beyond the LPR policies

How to get involved

We invite you to take part in this consultation on the draft SPD and appreciate you taking the time to do this. Your responses will help inform the preparation of a final SPD.To view the draft SPD and supporting documents, and to submit your comments to the proposed material, please click the following link. 

Alternatively, paper copies of the draft Lidsing Garden Community SPD and Consultation Statement will be available for inspection at the following inspection points as outlined in the statement of community involvement, If you are unable to submit responses through the consultation platform, written responses may also be sent by email to ldf@maidstone.gov.uk or by post to:•

 Strategic Planning, Maidstone Borough Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ

Consultation responses must be received by 23:59 on Monday 15 December 2025.  Lidsing Garden Community Drop In Sessions  

Residents and businesses are being invited to drop-in sessions for the Lidsing Garden Community on Wednesday 12 November between 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Beechen Hall in Walderslade, ME5 9RU and Thursday 13 November 1:30pm to 5:00pm at Blacksmith’s Barn in Bredhurst, ME7 3JU. 

These sessions are designed as information sessions for people to drop in and stay for as long or as little as they wish; there will be no formal presentation. Comments and feedback should be submitted online or via email or post.

What happens next:-Your feedback will help shape the final SPD.  

After the consultation period closes, we will:• Review and analyse your response• Make appropriate amendments to create a final SPD• Present a final version of the SPD to Committee for consideration and then to Cabinet to consider adoption of the SPD.  

Once adopted, the SPD will become an important material consideration when determining future planning applications for the Lidsing Garden Community. Further information For more information, please visit:• Lidsing Garden Community SPD Website

For any further enquiries please contact:

• ldf@maidstone.gov.uk

Thank you for your time and participation.