About this site

🐝 WHAT IS BEES NOT WASPS?

Pedham Place Golf Course is being proposed in the Sevenoaks District Local Plan 2042 for a new settlement of approximately 2,600 homes, together with acres of employment space, schools and other associated development.

The proposed development would extend across land within the parishes of Farningham and Eynsford, in the Green Belt and Kent Downs National Landscape (formerly designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), and close to the village of Crockenhill. The area also includes land close to the Farningham Conservation Area. The town of Swanley is adjacent to the proposed new settlement.

The WASPS Rugby Football Club stadium proposal has now been removed from the emerging Local Plan. The earlier proposal for a large rugby stadium, training facilities and hotel at Junction 3 of the M25 is therefore no longer part of the Local Plan proposal, although an option to buy some of the earmarked land is a 10-year option and it may come forward via planning permission outside of the Local Plan 2042.

However, Pedham Place itself remains in the Local Plan and is now proposed as a standalone settlement of approximately 2,600 homes. The proposed allocation also includes employment space, three schools and Gypsy and Traveller pitches.

📋 WHERE ARE WE NOW?

The Local Plan has moved on considerably since the earlier Regulation 18 consultation.

Regulation 18 took place from 23 October to 11 December 2025. Sevenoaks District Council received more than 28,000 comments from over 5,000 residents and organisations.

Following consideration of the Regulation 18 responses, the Council revised the Plan and published its Regulation 19 Publication version on 23 July 2026.

We are now at the Regulation 19 stage, which is the final opportunity for residents and organisations to make formal representations before the Plan is submitted for independent examination.

The Regulation 19 consultation runs until 11.59pm on Thursday 17 September 2026.

At Regulation 19, representations need to focus on whether the Local Plan is legally compliant and sound — rather than simply whether we like or dislike a particular development.

🔎 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Once the Regulation 19 consultation closes, Sevenoaks District Council intends to submit the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination by the end of December 2026.

An independent Planning Inspector will then examine the Plan. This will include consideration of whether the Plan has been prepared in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and whether it is sound.

The examination process can include hearing sessions, where the Inspector considers issues raised through the representations.

If the Inspector finds the Plan sound and legally compliant — potentially subject to any required modifications — it can then proceed towards adoption by Sevenoaks District Council.

🐝 WHY THIS WEBSITE EXISTS

Bees Not Wasps is a community-led effort by local residents.

Our aim is to make information about the proposed development at Pedham Place as clear, accessible and evidence-led as possible, so that local people can understand what is being proposed, what the potential impacts could be, and how they can take part in the planning process.

The proposed Pedham Place development would represent a major change to this area, with approximately 2,600 homes planned on a large site within the Green Belt and Kent Downs National Landscape.

We believe local residents should have access to clear information and evidence so that they can make their own informed representations.

🌿 THE CAMPAIGN HAS CHANGED — BUT THE ISSUE HAS NOT GONE AWAY

The removal of the WASPS stadium from the Local Plan is an important change from the Regulation 18 proposal.

But Pedham Place remains allocated for a major new settlement.

That is why we are continuing to provide information, evidence and practical guidance to help local people understand the proposal and, where they wish to do so, make their voices heard.

The Regulation 19 consultation is now open — and the deadline is 17 September 2026.

Please see illustration below of the stages:

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