Views sought on exciting proposals for Sevenoaks town

Published: Tuesday, 9th April 2024

Views are wanted on a once in a generation opportunity to improve the area close to Sevenoaks Leisure Centre and the library. Early ideas include the potential for a new leisure centre, learning hub and other environmental and cultural improvements.

Sevenoaks District Council and Kent County Council own property and land around Buckhurst Lane and Suffolk Way in Sevenoaks, close to the High Street.

Both councils are reaching out to the community asking for their early views to help shape possible improvements to the area. This includes replacing the existing leisure centre with a new, energy efficient building, a new hotel and bringing library and adult education services together under one roof, creating a more accessible learning hub.

Other ideas include creating better pedestrian links between the town centre and Knole Park and a new vibrant market hall for local venders.

These early proposals also allow some land to be released for new homes, providing some much needed affordable housing in the heart of the town, as well as market housing to help fund the leisure improvements.

Two community events, organised by Sevenoaks District Council, will take place at Sevenoaks Leisure Centre, Buckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1LW on Wednesday 24 April 2024 from 1.30pm to 8.30pm and Saturday 27 April 2024 from 10am to 3pm.

An online event will also take place on Monday 29 April 2024 from 7pm to 9pm. Details of how to register are available at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/haveyoursay.

Information available at the events, and an online survey for the public to express their views and offer their own ideas, will be available on the website from Wednesday 24 April until midnight on Monday 6 May 2024.

This is an early stage of community engagement and there will be several more opportunities for residents and businesses to have their say as the project develops.

Cllr Julia Thornton, the Leader of Sevenoaks District Council, says: “This is a really exciting, once in a lifetime opportunity to improve Sevenoaks’ leisure, learning and cultural offer while enhancing the local environment and supporting the town’s economy.

“It is hugely important to us that we hear directly from those people who live, work and spend their time in Sevenoaks about what they would like to see included in these plans for the land east of the High Street.

“Their input at this key early stage will help shape the vision for this area. We are very much looking forward to hearing what people have to say and the other brilliant ideas that they may have.”