Lib Dems Challenge £40m Sevenoaks Town Centre Loan | SDC News

Lib Dems say “must do better” to Council plans for new development in Sevenoaks. Continuing support ‘conditional’ on assurances over finances, housing quality and public engagement.

Liberal Democrat Councillors yesterday told the Conservative administration at Sevenoaks District Council that improvements are essential to plans to develop the centre of Sevenoaks Town and build a new leisure centre.

In a Council vote on Tuesday evening, the Lib Dem amendment to delay approval of a £40m loan until changes are put in place was blocked by the Conservative group. 

Lib Dem Cllr David Skinner said: “This is the most important development in Sevenoaks for generations, and it will last for longer than that. We cannot afford to get it wrong, or end up with an outcome that doesn’t serve the town. If that means that we leave it to a new unitary authority to make the key decisions, then that may be a price we have to pay for Conservative failure.”

The Council is currently appointing Wates as its Development Partner but has not yet produced clear plans for financing the scheme and consulting the public. 

Liberal Democrats are insisting that they need to see detailed proposals for a new leisure centre, parking and the design of new housing before the project can go ahead.

Cllr Skinner said: “We know that the scheme is already a pale shadow of the ambitious proposals that the Council launched in 2024. Kent County Council withdrew from the project early on, and plans for a new hotel and a cultural and educational centre have been abandoned. 

“We need to see more detail on the new housing, the size and design of the leisure centre and the impact on the town before we can vote for this to go ahead.”

With Local Government Re-organisation timed to take over in 2028, Sevenoaks District Council will no longer be around to implement any plans and a new unitary West Kent authority could decide to alter them.

Cllr Skinner said: “The public has been excluded from discussions about this project as it has evolved. Far too much information has been kept secret. 

It is now imperative that there is a full programme of engagement with local businesses, residents and users of the leisure centre before any detailed plans are put in place.”