Land North of Marden

3rd March 2026

Update to Marden Parish Council’s previous statement dated 23rd February 2026 (see below)

Along with two borough councillors and representatives from several village organisations, members of Marden Parish Council attended a stakeholder workshop about the ‘Land North of Marden’ proposals on 27th February 2026.

This was arranged by the agents for Countryside Properties to explain their initial plans for the area shown in the EIA Scoping Report available via this link on the MBC website: 26/500615/EIASCO | EIA Scoping Opinion - Proposed construction of up to 1,100 homes together with land reserved for education, later living accommodation and local commercial/community uses, access, landscaping and other works. | Land North Of Marden Kent

There was also the opportunity to ask questions (although there are currently few definite answers) and highlight various issues of importance to village residents and local businesses.

Councillors are reviewing the EIA Scoping Report, but it’s important to note that this is a technical document for Maidstone Borough Council about the environmental impacts that may need to be considered during development of the proposals and there is no planning application at this stage.

It is understood that Countryside Properties plan to arrange various forms of public engagement in the late spring or early summer but it’s unlikely that more will be known before then.

Further details will be publicised when available via our website: Land North of Marden - Marden Parish Council - Marden Parish Council, Marden, Tonbridge , Facebook page ((1) Facebook), Weekly Village Round Up e-mails (contact [email protected] to sign up), printed Newsletter and notice boards, as appropriate.

 

 

Land North of Marden - Environmental Impact Assessment

Marden Parish Council statement 23rd February 2026

Residents may be aware that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Opinion has just been submitted to Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) for a large site on land north of Marden.

This is an early step in the planning process and could potentially lead to a planning application in due course.

However, residents will probably recall that a similar process was started – but then abandoned – several years ago, so it cannot be assumed that a planning application will actually be submitted.

The only definite information available to the parish council at this stage is given via this link on the MBC website: 26/500615/EIASCO | EIA Scoping Opinion - Proposed construction of up to 1,100 homes together with land reserved for education, later living accommodation and local commercial/community uses, access, landscaping and other works. | Land North Of Marden Kent

Of course, the parish council is urgently trying to find out further details, and these will be publicised via our website (Land North of Marden - Marden Parish Council - Marden Parish Council, Marden, Tonbridge), Facebook page ((1) Facebook), Weekly Village Round Up e-mails (contact [email protected] to sign up), printed Newsletter (distributed in Spring, Summer and Autumn) and notice boards, as appropriate. Unfortunately, the latest newsletter is currently being distributed at the moment and went to press before this latest information became available.

In the meantime, the parish council cannot take a stance on the proposal at this stage because this could prevent us responding formally if a planning application is eventually submitted.  We appreciate that this may be frustrating, but it will preserve our ability to act in the best interests of the community when the time is right.

 

 

At the Full Council meeting held on Tuesday 9th September 2025 Marden Parish Chairman, Cllr Rabot, read a statement to those in attendance and this can be viewed at Appendix 1 of the Draft minutes at Full Council Minutes & Agendas - Marden Parish Council - Marden Parish Council, Marden, Tonbridge

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Marden Parish Councillors were invited to a meeting on 28th August 2025 at Maidstone Borough Council to discuss proposals for land at North of Maidstone Road Marden to which two Cllrs attended.

I had hoped to be able to hold an Extra Ordinary Full Council meeting on 2nd September to update residents but have deferred this until 9th September when it is hoped that we will have available further information.

Please see below statement issued 29/8/25 regarding this meeting:

EXTRA ORDINARY FULL COUNCIL MEETING – SCHEDULED FOR 2ND SEPTEMBER 2025: DEFERRED

Following advertising of the Extra Ordinary Full Council Meeting to be held on 2nd September Cllrs have requested that I obtain permission to share publicly the briefing note from the developer’s planning team received from a meeting held at Maidstone Borough Council regarding proposals for development on land North of Maidstone Road before updating residents on the current situation.

Therefore, I have deferred this meeting until 9th September, same venue and time, to allow Cllrs the opportunity to gather as much information as possible to help inform residents but will now form part of the monthly Full Council meeting.

The parish council’s website page will also be updated with an explanatory note about the current status, expected next steps and details about how and when Cllrs and members of the public would be involved in the process in due course.

To view MPC’s Call for Sites response in 2020 on this site please visit:  Land North of Marden - Marden Parish Council - Marden Parish Council, Marden, Tonbridge

Please note that the meeting on the 9th will not be a meeting when Cllrs will make any decisions or recommendations on the proposals as no formal planning application has been received but will be an opportunity to consider the expected next steps, timeframes and details on how the Parish Council and residents will be involved in the planning process.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me on 01622 832305 or [email protected].

Alison Hooker

Proper Officer to Marden Parish Council

 

Land North of Marden (Maidstone Road) site was submitted within the Call for Sites 2020 of Maidstone Borough Council's (MBC) Local Plan Review.

The Parish Council, along with many residents, responded to this in early 2020 (see below for comments). 

At Regulation 18b of the Local Plan in December 2020 a further response (see below) was submitted although the site for the “Garden Community” option had not been included in MBC’s Preferred Approaches consultation.

In April 2021 an application was received via MBC for a Scoping Opinion on this site.  Cllrs initially discussed this at their meeting on 20th April with the agreement that a draft document would be circulated via email to Cllrs for further discussion at the Planning Committee meeting on 18th May (an extension had been agreed with MBC until 19th May for a response).21/501909/EIASCO | EIA Scoping Opinion - Proposed development of up to 2,000 dwellings, in addition to a care home, new primary school, nursery, retail and employment provision together with associated community facilities, open space and infrastructure improvements including improvements to Marden train station on land north of Marden, Kent. | Land North Of Marden Maidstone Road Marden Kent (midkent.gov.uk)

This site has subsequently not been included in the Local Plan review.