Moving Forward

Lidsing as an allocated site (Policy LPRSP4B) is the starting point for all future decision making when progressing the SPD. The objective is to deliver the agreed vision for Lidsing. Nothing is fixed at this stage other than the requirements of the policy and the need to take account of the agreed technical body of work that has already been prepared to inform this place making process. A significant amount of this baseline work was tested at the Local Plan Examination by the Inspector and has benefitted from earlier stakeholder and consultee input and we have made this information available in the technical library section of this website.

As context, it is also important to understand there are a number of stages of preparation before any future detailed planning application can be submitted.  At this formative stage of the SPD process the objective is to set out high level design principles which can be progressed further at key Stages 3 and 4 outlined below. There will be later opportunities for the public and key stakeholders to focus on more levels of detail once the main principles incorporated in the SPD are developed further at later planning stages. This makes the creative input of contributors to the SPD particularly important.

The 4 stages of input to inform the later detailed planning application are;

Stage 1 – Completed March 2024 

Maidstone Local Plan Review is adopted and Policy LPRSP4B defines the level of acceptable development within the defined  allocated area.

Stage 2 – Current 

The Lidsing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) will approve “high level” development principles which will deliver the quantum of development outlined in the adopted policy and will serve as a guide for future planning applications. The Lidsing  SPD is expected to be approved by MBC in Autumn 2025.

Stage 3 – Submission of an outline planning application by F D Attwood & Partners in December 2025. 

This outline application submission will provide an additional level of detail to the emerging Lidsing SPD and will only fix access points but will be supported by a significant body of further technical evidence including an Environmental Statement (ES). This stage will also be subject to separate public consultation by both Maidstone Council and also prior to submission by the Promoter.  The approved outline layout will still only be illustrative at this stage.

Stage 4 – Reserved Matters (Detailed Planning) Assessment  

Informed by the 3 previous stages which will have each contributed to the guidance of design and land use decisions for Lidsing, the Reserved Matters (RM) application submission (pursuant to the outline approval) will be separately assessed by MBC following its own public consultation. 

It is important to recognise this context as the individual stages will each individually serve to develop the masterplan design framework “building up the successive  layers of detail” that will be incorporated in the later detailed application (Reserved Matters Submission). 

As a result, the current SPD stage represents the most creative stage for all parties to input in shaping the framework design principles.  Because of the policy requirements, there are some areas where there is more flexibility and there are certain “fixed” considerations set by the policy or established through the accepted baseline work already set during the Local Plan Examination. 

We welcome your input and look forward to your contributions to make Lidsing a quality place in line with the vision as well as ensuring it integrates with the surrounding communities which adjoin it in both the Maidstone and Medway areas.