Background
The Tunbridge Wells Local Plan 2020-2038 was adopted at the Full Council meeting on 10th December 2025.
The Local Plan includes the provision of the significant expansion of Paddock Wood including land at east Capel, as part of its strategy to deliver its housing need over the plan period. This expansion will be delivered on garden settlement principles, and will provide several thousand homes, employment provision, and the need for significant infrastructure delivery to support this. The growth around Paddock Wood and including land at east Capel also provides a significant opportunity for investment into Paddock Wood town centre so it can respond to meeting the needs of the additional population it will serve.
The expansion of Paddock Wood and east Capel offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to determine the direction and character of the town, equipping it for a future with new, sustainable infrastructure and excellent service provision.
The development will be focussed around multifunctional green space of different types, including a new area of natural open space. The vision for Paddock Wood and east Capel sees its growth with homes of different sizes and tenures to the east and west of Paddock Wood, along with additional new homes in the town centre and north of the railway line.
There will be sustainable mobility, such as walking and cycling links, throughout the settlement; this is key to the delivery of a successful settlement. There will also be comprehensive improvements to flood management, sport and leisure, health and education provision, and the addition of high quality employment premises to the north of the established industrial area at Transfesa Way.
A community hub to serve the existing and new residents of Paddock Wood has recently been delivered at Memorial Field and other infrastructure provision is being progressed.
At the heart of the creation of a sustainable community is the delivery of the new settlement based on garden settlement principles. This includes having a clear identity for the new community, being of a sustainable scale, with well-designed vibrant places. The development will offer a wide range of great homes including affordable housing, developed with strong local vision and engagement. The development will have accessible transport options helping to facilitate healthy places. New green spaces will be generous and accessible. The final development will be future proofed allowing for changing demographics, future growth, and the impacts of climate change, including flood risk and water availability, with durable landscape and building design planned for generations to come. With a long lasting legacy with stewardship to take care of community assets, infrastructure, and public realm, for the benefit of the whole community – existing and future alike.