We are pleased to share the following from Kingston Council’s engagement team:
The Council has now reached the final stage of consultation on Kingston’s new Local Plan. This is an important opportunity for residents, businesses and community groups to comment on whether the Plan is legally compliant and sound before it is submitted for independent examination.
Thank you for helping us ensure as many people as possible are aware of this final opportunity to have their say.
We’re getting in touch to let you know that the final consultation on Kingston’s new Local Plan is now open and we’d really welcome your views. The consultation runs until 11.59pm on Friday 4 September 2026.
The Local Plan sets out how Kingston could grow and change over the next 15 years, including where new homes, jobs, infrastructure, community facilities, culture and leisure opportunities could be located, while protecting the things that make our borough special, such as our parks, green spaces and local character.
The Plan also sets out where development can take place and the planning policies that will be used to make decisions on future planning applications.
What you can share your views on
At this stage, which is called a Regulation 19 consultation, comments must focus on whether the borough’s Plan is legally compliant and sound, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), paragraphs 36-38. If you believe something has not been done correctly, or that the Plan does not meet the required standards, we would like to hear from you.
Once this consultation has closed, we will review all of the comments received, prepare and submit Kingston’s Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate by the end of the year.
post your comments to the team: Spatial Planning Team, The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Guildhall 2, High Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU
visit any open library in the borough or the Information and Advice Centre, Guildhall 2, High Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU and pick up a printed response form and stamped addressed envelope
If you need the Local Plan in another format, or if you have a question, please email localplan@kingston.gov.uk or call us on 020 8547 5000 and we’ll call you back.
Join us at a drop-in session
If you’d like to find out more or ask questions, please come along to one of our borough-wide drop-in sessions:
Wednesday 12 August, 4pm to 7pm – New Malden Methodist Church (Lower Hall), 49 High Street, New Malden, KT3 4BY
Saturday 15 August, 9am to 1pm – Surbiton Farmers’ Market, Maple Rd, Surbiton KT6 4FB
Thank you for taking the time to get involved and helping to shape Kingston’s future
Secretary Keegan Hillier has also asked the Engagement Team if the KDN can have a disability-focused meeting with the Council surrounding the plan – we will update with their response!
Advertise the Kingston Disability Network (KDN) to external bodies through creation of advertisement graphics, social media posts, and attendance of public events
Promote a positive image of the Network, whilst keeping an eye out for disability or charity-related events in the Kingston Borough for members of the Executive Committee to attend. The External Comms manager does not have to be the one to attend said events, but is responsible for sharing these events with their Executive Committee peers, ensuring someone is able to attend or that the Secretary sends our apologies for the KDN’s absence.
The position of External Communications Manager requires someone with an understanding of graphic design, or a passion for learning. It would be well-suited to a university student looking to develop marketable skills, but we welcome applicants from any background. The External Communications Manager will have access to the KDN’s social media pages – currently Twitter/X and a Facebook group – and will use programs like Canva to create eye-catching graphics, keeping in mind the need to include Image Descriptions and dyslexia-friendly fonts. There may also be the need to create event posters and graphics on occasion.
This role requires someone with some familiarity with disability, whether through personal experience, past employment, or a keen interest in accessibility. The role also requires the role-holder to live or work within, or close to, the Royal Borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames, as the KDN is Kingston-focused.
The External Communications role offers fairly flexible working, with the only requirements being a once-monthly meeting (usually hybrid) and once-weekly check-ins with the rest of the Executive Committee. These check-ins can be through casual meet-up, email, or phone, depending on the needs and schedules of all involved. All other work can be completed whenever your schedule suits, and can be moulded to fit around a career, degree, or any other commitments. We expect this role should take no more than 2 hours for the average week, but may have periods requiring up to 5 hours a week, with notice.
As this role is voluntary, we are unable to pay for any costs or charges the applicant may encounter. However, we do not expect the applicant to pay out of pocket for any premium services, and if these should be required, the KDN will cover costs.
Those interested in the position should submit a CV and a short text, no more than 500 words, detailing your experience or interest in working as an External Communications officer or for a disability organisation. This can be sent to info@kdn.org.uk. Please also submit any questions to this address, as we are happy to speak to interested applicants.
Those who are successful in their submissions will be invited to a short, semi-informal interview with the Vice-Chair and Secretary, to discuss suitability for the role and answer any questions you may have.
Manage the finances of the Kingston Disability Network (KDN)
Work alongside the Executive Committee and Steering Group to apply for charitable grants and community group funding
The position of treasurer requires someone who is comfortable with numbers and finances. Prior treasurer experience is not required, but if you lack the current experience, we ask for a proactive passion for learning. The treasurer will have access to the KDN’s banking, alongside the Vice-Chair and Secretary, and will offer sensible budgeting ideas for events, activities, and running costs. The Treasurer will create spreadsheets covering the KDN’s regular costs, ongoing fees, and streams of income, offering all relevant bodies an understanding of the ins and outs of the KDN’s financial status.
This role requests someone with some familiarity with disability, whether through personal experience, past employment, or a keen interest in accessibility. The role also requires the role-holder to live within, or close to, the Royal Borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames, as the KDN is Kingston-focused.
The Treasurer role offers fairly flexible working, with the only requirements being a once-monthly meeting (usually hybrid) and once-weekly check-ins with the rest of the Executive Committee. These check-ins can be through casual meet-up, email, or phone, depending on the needs and schedules of all involved. All other work can be completed whenever your schedule suits, and can be moulded to fit around a career, degree, or any other commitments, and is expected to be no more than a few hours a week, often less.
As this role is voluntary, we are unable to pay for any costs or charges the applicant may encounter. However, we do not expect the successful applicant to pay for any applications necessary for the treasurer role, and covering the cost of these can be discussed should any come up.
Those interested in the position should submit a CV and a short text, no more than 500 words, detailing your experience or interest in working as a treasurer or for a disability organisation. This can be sent to info@kdn.org.uk. Please also submit any questions to this address, as we are happy to speak to interested applicants.
Those who are successful in their submissions will be invited to a short, semi-informal interview with the Vice-Chair and Secretary, to discuss suitability for the role and answer any questions you may have.
