Strategic Plan
Tourist welcome board in high street
The Council’s strategic plan 2024-27 was adopted by Full Council in July 2024.
Our new strategic plan focuses on actionable goals that we can influence directly, ensuring we continue to serve our community effectively. It is the result of a dedicated effort by councillors and officers to shape the future of our community, and we review it annually. Each year the updated Forward Plan of projects is attached to the Strategic Plan, which includes ongoing updates.
Annual review
Every year Council reviews the Action Plan through the Forward Planning Steering Group, which meets at least once a year, and before the draft budget preparations to:
- Review and update the Council’s objectives and projects as set out in the Strategic and Forward Plan.
- Make recommendation to the Finance Committee on funding for council projects in the Plan.
- Make recommendations on long-term future development of the town, in line with the Town Council’s agreed vision and fundamental principles.
- Monitor, update and maintain the Town Council’s long, medium, and short-term plan.
- Make recommendations on policy and capital expenditure to Council.
- Consider wider partnership schemes for Edenbridge and if it is appropriate for the Town Council to be involved.
Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP)
As well as the Council’s four-year Strategic Plan, which is reviewed annually and updated to reflect current priorities and projects, the Council has also prepared an Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP). The IDP is a supporting evidence document that identifies the infrastructure required to support the level of growth proposed in the emerging District Council Local Plan.
The IDP sets out the current baseline position for Edenbridge and assesses existing capacity across key areas such as utilities, highways, education, health, flood mitigation, community facilities and digital infrastructure. It highlights where constraints exist and outlines the infrastructure that would be needed to support both committed and potential future development. Importantly, the IDP covers all site allocations included in the Regulation 18 (3) Local Plan consultation, regardless of the Town Council’s position on individual sites, to ensure that infrastructure needs are assessed cumulatively.
The document is intended to inform the District Council, developers, and other partners of the wider requirements necessary to ensure that any future growth is safe, sustainable, and supported by appropriate infrastructure. It also aligns with national planning policy and the Town Council’s formal responses to the Regulation 18 consultations.