Policy information sourced from Tonbridge and Malling Managing Development and the Environment Development Plan Document

DC7 Community Facilities outside the settlement confines

Proposals for local community facilities outside the built confines of settlements will be permitted where they involve the reuse of existing rural buildings appropriately located and well related to the community they serve in order to improve the social functioning of the settlement to which they relate and are otherwise acceptable in planning terms.

Proposals for new buildings for such community facilities will only be permitted subject to meeting all of the following criteria:

  • no alternative accommodation is available either within the confines of the urban areas or villages, or through the conversion of existing buildings under the terms of Policy DC1;
  • the proposal is essential to serve the settlement to which it relates; and
  • there is no adverse impact on the highway network;
  • it would be appropriate in scale and design to its setting and to the character of the area within which it is located as defined in the Character Area Appraisals SPD;
  • the proposal does not result in the fragmentation and/or severance of an agricultural land holding creating a non-viable agricultural unit;
  • full account is taken of any biodiversity interest in accordance with Policy NE3;

Proposals within the Green Belt will be subject to PPG2.

For more information please see the Plan Document