Residents are being urged to attend a number of drop-in sessions this week after Sevenoaks Council announced proposals for a new leisure centre in Swanley.

The new plans propose to spend approximately £17 million to redevelop the "ageing" White Oak leisure centre to incorporate a number of new facilities including a modern 100-station gym, a 25-metre swimming pool, a learner pool and a parkour area.

A Tag Active indoor arena is also proposed as part of the redevelopment which would see users test their agility and speed in a series of challenges such as climbing walls and obstacle courses.

The redevelopment of the centre was prompted following a public consultation in 2016 regarding the future of the town, in which hundreds of respondents replied stating they wished for a leisure centre to remain in Swanley.

MORE: Swanley girl makes debut at New York Fashion Week

According to council documents, the existing centre is described as "no longer fit for purpose", noting it has become too expensive to run in its current condition in terms of energy and maintenance costs.

The new centre is expected to be more energy-efficient with lower running costs in order to combat this.

Funds to pay for the construction and redevelopment are expected to be sourced from the proposed construction of new homes on the White Oak site in the future.

Council cabinet member for housing and health, Cllr Michelle Lowe, said: “We are really excited about the new plan for White Oak.

"The modernised centre will provide excellent services for the town and will be more environmentally friendly than the current centre.

"White Oak is an integral part of Swanley.

"We have worked closely with industry experts to put forward proposals for a centre that is economically viable while offering activities that reflect contemporary leisure trends.

"We believe these plans offer the best opportunity to continue to provide leisure in the town for generations to come."

MORE: Christian Family Assembly Outreach plans move to Swanley post office

A planning application for the new centre is expected to be submitted later this year.

The council will be holding four drop-in events this week in locations in Swanley to showcase the plans.

The drop-in events take place from Wednesday (March 6) until Saturday at Swanley Market, White Oak Leisure Centre and Swanley Link.