The Regeneration and Development Project Manager presented the report which set out the identified opportunity to regenerate the Land to the East of Sevenoaks High Street, following the pressing need to undertake significant work to decarbonise the existing leisure centre and other buildings owned to ensure compliance with new environmental standards. Regenerating Land to the East of Sevenoaks High Street would help achieve this, whilst also helping to deliver other objectives, in line with principles and policies noted in the Council’s Communities Plan, the emerging local plan, the Neighbourhood Plan, the Economic Development Strategy and the Town Centre Strategy.

Various feasibility work and other due diligence studies had been undertaken as set out in the report to explore potential redevelopment options for Land East of Sevenoaks High Street. The bulk of the proposed regeneration area was owned (freehold) by the Council apart from the Library and its associated staff car park and areas of adopted public highways, which are owned by Kent County Council (KCC).

Positive discussions had taken place with KCC regarding a partnership arrangement with the Council on regenerating the area, with both parties working in collaboration with one another against an agreed set of aims and objectives and via a corporate delivery vehicle established with a private sector Strategic Development Partner to deliver the project.

External help and support would be required to deliver this project and would involve appointing various consultants as part of the Project Team. This would ensure confidence and assurance going forward with independent/expert advice with proper due diligence to enable all partners to make informed decisions. Internal staff resources would be shared between the Council and KCC.

It was recommended that the virement of £435,000 be made from the existing £1.5m feasibility budget to allocate towards this project within the approved capital programme. This was not new money but existing capital that would be used for the appointment of the required consultants for this project as set out in section 81 of the report.

The recommended delivery structure for this project of an LLP was a well-recognised and very common vehicle used in Joint Ventures (JV) between councils and private sector developers. KCC was also in agreement with this approach as they were delivering several other schemes using an LLP JV delivery model. The main reasons and benefits associated with this approach are set out in sections 37 to 44 in the report.

Public engagement events were undertaken and the approach and key findings were detailed within Appendix F. The feedback would be used to refine the vision, clearly set development objectives and principles prior to procuring a Strategic Development Partner. Once the Strategic Development Partner had been selected and the LLP had been established further key stakeholder and public engagement exercises would be undertaken as the project progresses and more details emerge.

Members considered and discussed the report. Discussion took place regarding the needs of a hotel in Sevenoaks and the target audience of users. Members were advised that the hotel would be upper-mid range, and would provide more than ‘budget’ accommodation in comparison. The provider of the hotel, and its design would continue to be considered along with any other risks to ensure that a hotel would be viable. Members were also reminded that the design was still at its concept point. Further engagement would come forward over the course of the project with stakeholders and there was a designated website which would be updated.

Discussions continued on the impact on procurement legislation changes that were anticipated in the Autumn.

Members were reassured during discussion that the cultural element of the project including the Library, Museum and Adult Education Centre remained a key feature of the development and would be of high quality and of the same footprint. Sustainability would continue to be a key element and as the development continued further details would become available. The development was a flagship scheme for Sevenoaks and therefore it needed to remain viable but renewable energy, air quality and biodiversity were all important considerations, as well as the location of the bus station.

Resolved: That it be recommended to Cabinet that the recommendations, a to c, as set out within the report be endorsed.