Train station to be relocated as part of £100m plans to transform Swanley

The radical move is an attempt to make Swanley town centre more attractive to London commuters, which lies 30 minutes away from London Victoria by train.

Swanley train station was originally built in 1939

Two other major building projects have been proposed as part of a 20-year-building-plan called the “Master Vision for Swanley and Hextable”.

This includes the construction of a train station halt to allow pedestrians walking access across the railway tracks and an overhaul in public transport across the town totalling £100m.

Such infrastructure could include a designated bus, tram, or monorail with bridleways running alongside the railway line that runs through the town towards the motorway.

Sevenoaks District Council has also eyed up land near the M25 to deliver on an eco-vision that could include the building of a Danish model of “greenhouse house” that traps heat in an environmental way. The Swanley Garden Village site has been put forward for development by local landowners.

Details of the proposals can be viewed in full here

Other big ideas put forward to the public for consultation include the resettlement of a leisure centre skirting the Swanley Recreation Ground to form a "health hub" with the two GP practices forming a super-surgery.

St. Mary's Primary School could also be moved onto Orchards Academy's ground to pay for new school buildings and infrastructure, the council has suggested.

“We’re not saying that’s going to happen,” Council leader Peter Fleming said, “But if somebody doesn’t write that down and say to the people of Swanley this is an option, this is an opportunity, it will never happen.”

The council has stressed that its proposals are ideas only but warned that without a strategic framework it could not steer the direction of ad hoc building developments.

Artistic sketch of the Town Centre Civic Space

If the public agrees to the council’s vision then the agreement would be ratified into a policy document to guide building developers.

Mr Fleming said: “It has to be transformational and it has to be a vision, we could just potter about and let this development happen but you have all the issues of letting development happen in an unplanned way.

“What we’re talking about is a real lifestyle choice.

“If you could just walk out your house and it’s a 10 minute walk to the station and you’ve got access to Victoria or your local town to do shopping, do you need a car in the same way as you would traditionally?

“But all of this will only happen if we can bring people together to make that happen.”

Seveonoaks ​Council leader Peter Fleming

In a separate development U+I has submitted plans to redevelop Swanley Square shopping centre and create 340 new homes.

U+I have submitted plans to redesign Swanley Square shopping centre

More than 1,500 people attended consultations in February this year, although the council is hoping more young people will be engaging in the latest round of public involvement.

Drop-in events in Swanley are taking place at the empty shop at 38/39 Swanley Centre Association between September 22 - September 24 from 11am to 4pm with a further drop in session taking place at Hextable Village Hall on September 23 from 9am to 9pm.

The White Oak Leisure Centre will also be hosting sessions on September 27 between 11am - 9pm and October 1 from 11am - 4pm.

The consultation will be running until November 2. 

For more information, and to view the Master Vision in full, residents can visit sevenoaks.gov.uk/swanley&hextable