Work on Kent 635 home estate near county's 'most desirable town' including 'village centre' gets start date
The new 635 home estate with a "village centre" near Kent's most desirable town is one step closer with the appointment of house builder Barratt David Wilson Homes.
The scheme will be built on the former Government secret weapons testing site at Fort Halstead. The facility, which is five miles from Sevenoaks, was responsible for the development of detonators for the atomic bomb.
Along with a business hub at the new development, 20 per cent of the homes will be affordable. A Barratt spokesperson told KentLive: "The site is anticipated to be delivered over a number of phases, with demolition likely to start in spring 2025. The development is expected to take over six years to complete, with homes being sold from 2026."
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And they said land had been set aside for a primary school "for the next 15 years, should Kent County Council wish to deliver one".
Halstead with its narrow lanes and rural feel was described as a "tranquil village" of around 1,500 homes by then parish council chairman in 2018, when previous plans were made for building 700 homes at Fort Halstead.
Fort Halstead, built in 1892, is on the crest of the North Downs and overlooks Sevenoaks. The new estate, which secured planning permission on December 1, 2023, will be delivered in stages.
The BBC reported in 2011, the military research centre, employing 840 people, would shut. Merseyside Pension Fund bought the site in 2017. The closure followed a review of operations by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, which is part of the Ministry of Defence.
Staff were moved to Portsmouth and Salisbury. The new estate will have a business hub, a bus service and the 19th century Fort area and its bunkers will be converted into a public history centre.
The 'hybrid' application for the scheme at Fort Halstead was submitted in 2019. This means it sought part full and part outline permission for areas on the site. The affordable housing rate had originally been 40 per cent, as we reported in July 2021.
A Barratt spokesperson told us: "The hybrid planning permission included a viability assessment which concluded, at the time the permission was granted, that the site could provide 20 per cent of dwellings as affordable housing."
"The Section 106 legal agreement requires that viability is re-appraised during the site’s construction, to assess the scope for increasing the percentage of affordable homes provision, to a maximum of 40 per cent. The viability review triggers will be the 100th occupation and the 400th occupation."
Barratt's managing director William Walsh said: "“We are proud to announce our commitment to deliver a lasting legacy at Fort Halstead. Our plans for transforming the site represent so much more than delivering hundreds of high quality, new and affordable homes – it will see Barratt David Wilson reinvigorate the past while creating a forward-looking, sustainable development for the future, increasing local employment opportunities."
'Protecting the surrounding ancient woodland'
He said: “Fort Halstead is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop something unique on a site with a rich – and sometimes top-secret – heritage. The economic hub will continue that history of innovation, whilst restoring the landscape and protecting the surrounding ancient woodland. Ultimately, it’s an opportunity to open up the site for all to enjoy, whilst retaining and celebrating the rich history of the site.”
Most of the site will be open to the public, including play areas, along with cycle and pedestrian routes. Barratt said the site would benefit from "the protection of the ancient woodland".
As KentLive reported last year, Sevenoaks was named as one of the 50 most desirable places to live in Britain. The Telegraph and estate agent Savills highlighted places across the country people dream of living. Sevenoaks was the only town in Kent to make the list.
It was ranked 12th and was described as "one of our county's most affluent and upmarket towns". Sevenoaks has lots of charming period buildings, a bustling high street, the oh-so-important Waitrose and the private Sevenoaks School, the third priciest in Kent. Sevenoaks is also home to one of Britain's most impressive stately homes, National Trust's Knole, with beautiful parkland full of deer.