Kent County Council has told ministers that it is not bound by official regional planning guidance issued by the DETR. After taking legal advice, the council feels that it must "have regard" to the planning notes, but is not bound by them.

The Tory-run council says that the target of building 860,000 new homes in the south-east over the next 20 years is too high, and only intends to allow the building of 4,700 homes a year, as opposed to the government target of 5,700.