Experience in Kent

Chelgate Local has been providing political consultancy, community consultation and stakeholder engagement support to developers and planning consultants for projects in Kent for over 30 years.

We understand the politics of planning. Our executives include current and past senior politicians. Michael Hardware, our director of planning and property, is a serving district and county councillor, current cabinet member with responsibility for planning policy and development management.. He has also served on planning committees, has been deputy cabinet member for economic development and also for health & adult social care. Nick Wood-Dow has served on a planning committee and been vice chair of policy and resources. He was chairman of Surrey Conservatives for a number of years. He is currently Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. Andrew Saywell is a senior Cabinet Member in one of the UK’s largest local authorities, Andrew brings more than fifteen years of experience in local government and public engagement. Ian Ward has served as a portfolio holder for strategic planning at an Essex authority for almost a decade.

Recent projects in Kent have included: High Halstow, a development of 780 new homes Medway on The Hoo, the regeneration of Springfield Mill in Maidstone for 203 homes, 68 homes at Boughton-Under-Blean in Swale, 99 homes on the edge of Tenterden in Ashford, 1,200 homes at Paddock Wood, Tunbridge Wells, and we represented the developers forum in Sevenoaks for several years.

Please contact Michael Hardware on 020 7939 7980 or email if you would like further information about our work in Kent, or wish to discuss a specific site.