Next steps for Land East of Sevenoaks High Street

Published: Monday, 17th February 2025

Exciting proposals to regenerate the land east of Sevenoaks High Street are being updated following feedback from the public and stakeholders.

Last year, Sevenoaks District Council set out its early ideas to rejuvenate the area. These included improvements to public spaces, a new, modern leisure centre and a new library alongside other economic, environmental and cultural improvements to boost this part of the town.

Residents were generally supportive of the proposals but raised concerns mainly about rebuilding the library, car parking, accessibility, size and facility mix of the new leisure centre, impact from construction activities and traffic.

Kent County Council has now decided the library will no longer form part of the project. The library will remain in its existing form in the town centre, with Kent County Council highlighting the library is already well used by the public.

Taking this and resident and stakeholder comments into account, Sevenoaks District Council is now proposing an alternative concept scheme to provide:

• A new, modern, energy efficient leisure centre
• A cultural hub and market hall for traders to complement the Wednesday and Saturday street markets
• New public spaces, better pedestrian links to Knole Park and other landscaping and environmental improvements
• Measures to reduce the use of vehicles in the area east of Sevenoaks High Street
• New town centre homes built to high environmental and energy efficient standards with dedicated parking spaces.

The revised scheme is conceptual at this stage to test what is possible for the site. The Council will be asking potential development partners to put forward schemes, via a procurement process, that they think best meets the project requirements and objectives.

Cllr Michael Horwood, Sevenoaks District Council’s Cabinet Member for Innovation and Improvement, says: “We remain 100% committed to delivering this very important project to improve Sevenoaks’ leisure and cultural offer, supporting the town’s economy and enhancing the environment.

“We have been working hard in the background to update the scheme, taking account of residents’ comments and the decision by KCC to no longer be part of the project. Our work so far suggests the scheme is viable and deliverable, and will bring significant benefits for the area, particularly in building a new state-of-the-art Leisure Centre, as the existing one is coming to the end of its life. Our next step is to appoint a development partner and we’ve already had interest about the scheme.

Councillors will consider the updated proposals and the next steps for the project during March and April 2025, including the Council Meeting on 29 April. Councillors will consider a request to go out to tender to appoint a development partner by the end of this year. 

The development partner would work on detailed designs during 2026, including further engagement with the public, before submitting a planning application.

The project is currently estimated to cost around £120 million. It is expected to be self-financing with income from the new homes paying towards the new leisure centre and other improvements.

For the latest updates on the project visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/landeast.