FOI release

Grey/Green belt reviews

Case reference EIR2026/00234

Received 10 February 2026

Published 11 February 2026

Request

1. Please provide any information regarding the council’s grey/green belt reviews to date. 2. How many sites have you identified as being grey belt * And what is the acreage of these sites individually. By green/grey belt, I am referring to the environmental land classification set out in this framework: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2

Response

1.  Please provide any information regarding the council’s grey/green belt reviews to date.

The Green Belt within Tunbridge Wells Borough was most recently reviewed to support the production of the Borough Local Plan (Adopted December 2025). This Green Belt Study was comprised of three stages. These documents can be viewed in the Local Plan core document list - see CD3.43 (Stages 1-2), CD3.141 (Stage 3) and PS_035 (an addendum to Stage 3). The Local Plan was submitted for examination in November 2021. This was before grey belt was introduced as a concept in the December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Therefore, the Green Belt Study did not identify grey belt land, and it was not considered through examination of the Local Plan.

 

The Council has committed to undertaking an early review of the Local Plan, starting within six months of its adoption on the 10th December 2025. A new Green Belt Study will be undertaken as part of the plan-making process for the Local Plan Review. This Green Belt Study will be produced in line with national policy and planning practice guidance. The Green Belt Study for the Local Plan Review will therefore identify grey belt land, unless any significant and unforeseen changes in national policy were to arise. This work has not yet formally commenced.



 2.  How many sites have you identified as being grey belt

As the work on the Green Belt Study for the Local Plan Review has not started, no sites have been identified as grey belt.

     *   And what is the acreage of these sites individually.

N/A

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.