What is the broad scope of the project?
To seek the views of residents, businesses and other stakeholders on our early ideas to improve the area east of Sevenoaks High Street (around Buckhurst Lane and Suffolk Way). This feedback will help shape our proposals for this area.
What is being proposed?
Sevenoaks District Council and Kent County Council own land to the east of the High Street, Sevenoaks. This includes the current leisure centre, the library/museum/art gallery, car parks, bus stops, Sackville House and the former M&Co shop. The councils want to regenerate these areas to provide:
- A new state-of-the-art, environmentally efficient new leisure centre
- A new multi-use learning hub that will incorporate a library, adult education centre, gallery and community space
- A new market hall to enhance the retail, cultural and culinary offer and support local and emerging businesses
- A new hotel
- New homes, including much-needed affordable housing
- Improved pedestrian connections between the town centre and Knole Park
- Improved public transport facilities
What are your objectives?
Many town centres and high streets are changing and some are in decline. While Sevenoaks has been performing well, it is our objective to secure its future with improvements that support businesses and ensure the town centre remains a hub for communities to use, gather, be creative and socialise in.
We also want to ensure our buildings are fit-for-purpose and kinder to the environment. For example, Sevenoaks Leisure Centre is not energy efficient, and is near the end of its life. Improving its energy efficiency would be difficult to achieve and very costly.
A new library art gallery and museum closer to the town centre could include adult education and help bring more people into the town, supporting local businesses.
Some of the land released through the project could be used to provide a new hotel and new homes. The District needs new homes and, given the Green Belt covers 93% of the District, we have to make the best use of our existing built up areas.
Will the library and leisure centre close?
Our initial ideas seek to ensure both remain open until their replacements have been provided. We believe construction could be phased to accommodate this. However, this is dependent on achieving planning permission.
Will jobs be at risk at the leisure centre or library?
A new leisure centre and library will provide improved facilities for both residents and visitors alike – all of which will require the dedicated teams that we are fortunate to already have. Therefore, we do not anticipate an impact on the number of roles required.
What does it mean for me?
This is a very early stage in our proposals, and nothing will change immediately. We will continue to talk with our communities and we will keep you informed of any changes as the proposals progress.
How much will it cost?
It is too early to estimate the cost of the project as we are looking at feedback on some very early design concepts. Once we have taken this feedback into account, we will then work with partners and stakeholders on the finer details.
How will this work be funded?
A new hotel and housing could help fund the wider project. Our intention is to work with partners and stakeholders to identify the best and most cost-effective way to fund the full programme of improvements.
What is the timeline for delivering this project?
It is too early to say, but we estimate that, were the project to be approved and receive planning permission, it could take about six years. However, our intention is to use the feedback received during this engagement to inform discussions with partners and stakeholders later this year.
How will this deliver a better town centre and High Street?
Our proposals present an opportunity to enhance the town centre and support public services. We believe they will help to support the work of Sevenoaks Town Council as part of its ambitions for the Town Centre, meet the objectives and policies in the Neighbourhood Plan, and the emerging Local Plan, as well as the aspirations in the Economic Development Strategy and the Town Centre Strategy.
What factors have been considered?
We want to improve how this area links in with the historic town centre. That includes thinking about how new homes might complement and enhance what we already have. It’s also about making it easier to get around on foot using the network of existing streets and lanes. That includes Suffolk Way and Buckhurst Lane.
This is an important opportunity to establish a much greener town centre, addressing our biodiversity and climate challenges. It also supports a closer connection between the High Street and Knole Park
How can I have my say and find out more?
We would like to hear your views on our early ideas. Please complete our survey at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/haveyoursay (available from 24 April 2024) or come to one of our information events.
The events 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. The public will be able to meet the project team and ask any questions.
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.
The consultation will close at midnight on Monday 6 May 2024.
What is the impact of this project on transport and access through this part of the town centre?
We want to make Suffolk Way and Buckhurst Lane more accessible for pedestrians, providing new routes that link the town centre with the wider area, including Knole Park.
Will cars be banned from any areas with more walkable streets?
Sevenoaks District Council has prepared a draft Strategy and Vision for five of its town centres including Sevenoaks. This included public consultation about Sevenoaks. This highlighted many positive aspects of the town centre but identified that:
- Cycling and bus travel could be difficult
- High Street and London Road were too car dominated.
This is something we’re seeking to address more broadly as part of this project.
Discussions are at a very early stage with no final decisions made and we would like to hear people’s views as part of this consultation to identify the best way forward. That said, we will be exploring how we can improve access to public transport and make streets more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists.
Will there be changes to the bus station?
There could be, however we would like to hear from you what could be improved.
Will there be fewer places to park?
Not necessarily. Our intention is to ensure our parking facilities are better utilised and whilst some car parking may move as a result of these early proposals, we are also exploring opportunities to create spaces.
How many new homes are being proposed?
The draft Local Plan says around 300 new homes could be built in this area. However it is too early to say exactly how many homes could be built. This would form part of the detailed project plan.
Where will people, who live in the new homes, park?
While our ideas are at a very early stage, the housing could include undercroft (ground level) parking with the new homes built above.
Is the former Tesco site part of the proposals?
No. The former Tesco site is in private ownership and has planning permission for business space and new homes. It does not form part of our proposals. The planning reference for the site is 20/03476/FUL.
How will businesses to the east of the High Street access the rear of their properties and get deliveries during the works?
Should the project proceed, there would be a construction management plan to ensure access remains available.
What will happen with the public comments?
We will create a summary that outlines the feedback we have received. We will use this feedback to inform the future designs as they will be important in shaping the final proposals.
Will our feedback make any difference?
Absolutely. These events are designed to seek views from the people that use the town centre area and to help inform the next stage of the design concepts.
Has a decision already been made?
No. All design work will take account of the community’s comments and will go through the usual process of consultation and planning. There will be further opportunities to comment and contribute as the ideas develop.
How would this project be delivered?
As we develop our ideas with your input, the intention is to deliver this project in partnership with a private sector development partner. They would advance our ideas and would be responsible for submitting a planning application, so there will be more opportunities for further public engagement.
What is your criteria for selecting the development partner for this project?
We will be seeking a partner that shares our vision and in due course we will be releasing a tender to select a development partner.
Will the decision be completely based on cost or will there be other criteria in terms of expectations?
The most important thing for us is to ensure that we are working with a partner that shares our vision for the future provision of services and homes in our historic town centre.
I am interested in tendering for future work? Who do I need to contact?
It is too early to submit your expressions of interest for construction services and/or provide other trade goods and services. Once the development partner is in place, we will update the project website with further details.
As part of our procurement process, we will be seeking to encourage the future development partner to have robust ESG principles and policies in place that support local businesses, jobs and skills development.
What are we doing for Edenbridge Leisure Centre?
We are currently considering how we can improve Edenbridge Leisure Centre. Recently, we undertook a customer satisfaction survey at all our leisure centres, including Edenbridge. We also commissioned a condition survey for Edenbridge Leisure Centre. The findings of both exercises are being reviewed.
We envisage discussing our early ideas for Edenbridge Leisure Centre towards the end of this year (2024).