Town centre plan on next stage

'ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION' PROJECT MOVES A STEP CLOSER

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A “BIG step” was taken towards realising a development which will “change the face of Sevenoaks”.

Councillors signed off moving to the next stage of their “once-in-a-generation” project to build a new leisure centre and homes east of the town’s High Street, by agreeing a number of actions, including the route to appointing a development partner.

Some underlined how crucial it is Sevenoaks District Council - which has long held ambitions to redevelop the area around Buckhurst Lane and Suffolk Way - gets the project right, although there are “many pressures” in delivering the £120 million scheme.

One councillor raised fears blocks of flats would “loom over” the town.

Next steps, including appointing a development partner following a tender process, setting up a design review panel, and forming an engagement plan, were approved at a meeting of full council, after the report had gone before a series of committees over recent weeks.

The key driver has been the need to replace the ageing leisure centre.