Angels Fans Urged to Formally Object to Planning Application
Calling all supporters and friends. Your club needs your assistance to formally object to a planning application which is critical to our future and we need you to do this on or before Friday 13 February.
You may be aware of the drawn-out discussions concerning the extension of our lease with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC). And you may also be aware of our disappointment that in the last few months the Council is now making the potential extension of our lease conditional upon our accepting a pathway through our leased land.
We have recently learned that a planning application has been submitted for the development of land to the north of the stadium. Details of this can be found here:
Citizen Portal Planning – Application reference: 25/01976/PA.
Although the plans do not explicitly provide any details of the proposed path, the area marked in red denoting the edge of the development area includes a significant part of land to the south of Hilden Brook which is currently leased by the Club. And we have recently been provided with information that suggests that a proposed ‘path’ on this part of the development is to be significantly larger – (4m in width – and in effect akin to the width of a road) – and thus significantly more invasive than we were previously led to believe.
The Club is therefore very concerned about this planning application and has submitted a formal objection letter. Full details of these concerns can be read in a transcript of this that appears at the base of this statement.
And sadly, the Council now seems to be making an offer of a lease extension conditional upon us accepting a path and loss of leased land.
We want to be clear that the Club is not wholly opposed to a pathway in some form, and is more than willing to work constructively with the Council and developer to facilitate this, provided that the development is limited to taking land that is genuinely needed for an appropriate sized path, and appropriate and fair compensation can be agreed with us.
Tonbridge Angels FC Chair, Sophie Purves says: “We are a supporter owned, community football club which has been disrespected and disregarded by the submission of a planning application that proposes a major change to our stadium footprint and the inclusion of a road through our site.
“The football Club met with Council officers and Councillor Adem Mehmet from Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council on 25 November 2025 and we were given the distinct impression that the development application was much less advanced than it now seems in reality. We were unaware that the developer had already held a public consultation in July 2025 and failed to invite us to it.
“I believe that Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council are attempting to ride roughshod over our rights, by refusing to extend our current lease unless we accept this four-metre-wide road referred to as a pathway through our site. Tying the lease extension to this road is cynical and opportunistic. It was never contemplated when the possibility of a lease extension was first raised with the Council in 2023/2024. Without the lease extension promised previously, the Council know full well that the club is unable to apply for essential grant funding necessary to improve facilities, including key improvements for disabled supporters.”
The club also strongly believes that the Council and developer have not fully considered its local planning obligations and the Council’s Local Plan in particular. The Council has obligations to consider, recognise, and promote essential local sporting infrastructure when considering all planning permission applications. The Club is a valued community asset and part of that local sporting infrastructure on the doorstep of this development. And yet at present, there is absolutely nothing about the proposed development and planning application that recognises this, and the planning application that has been made is only detrimental to the Club.
We are therefore inviting local residents, supporters, and anyone else who wants to see our great club move forward and thrive, to submit their own objections and concerns about the proposed development to stand alongside the Club’s own objections.
The Club has prepared a simple sample objection letter for supporters to submit which you can find here below, but feel free to adapt or adjust it to express your own views on the matter as you think fit.
You can submit your concerns on the Council’s portal website using the submit comments option on the portal. Or you can send your objection by email to planning.applications@tmbc.gov.uk or write to:
Mr James Bailey,
Head of Planning
Development Control
Gibson Building,
Gibson Drive
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent ME19 4LZ
Remember to quote the reference TM/25/01976/PA.
Crucially there is limited time in which to submit comments and they must be sent by Friday 13 February 2026. So the sooner you can do this for us, the better.
We will keep everyone updated as the matter progresses and thank you in advance for your kind support on this matter.
Word – Sample Objection Letter for supporters
