An emergency general meeting of Swanley Town Council convened on Wednesday, 26th August 2026, to consider a bid for the former playing fields on Egerton Avenue, Hextable. The deadline for bids to the site representatives, Knight and Frank, is 3rd September. Councillors debated the potential purchase of approximately 65,000 square metres of land, weighing the financial implications, risks, and bidding requirements.
The council noted that available Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds, anticipated in October, could not be used for the bid as evidence of available funds was required at submission. Council loans were also deemed unviable due to approval timelines, and funds from the sale of The Cotton Mill are already committed. Despite acknowledging the risks of bidding without a land survey and the potential utilisation of all unallocated Council reserves, councillors recognised the opportunity to safeguard the land for community purposes, such as sports and other facilities.
Cllr Chrissy Hudson, Chair of Hextable Parish Council, stated that due to time constraints, the Parish Council could not convene an emergency meeting to consider a joint bid. She explained that the Parish Council's financial position, with only three months of reserves, did not permit them to match Swanley Town Council's funding capacity or cover future maintenance costs. While Hextable Parish Council ideally wished to own the land outright and would be open to future collaboration, they could not participate in the current bid.
Following discussion, the council agreed to submit the highest possible bid within its available funds, totalling £125,471.04. This figure represents an undervalued rate of £1.92 per square metre compared to Sevenoaks District Council's land acquisition rate. The Mayor of Swanley also extended thanks to the CEO for efforts in securing the Annual 1812 event, which will now feature a drone and special effects show.
