Hospital to benefit from share of £1.7m CIL funds

A total of £464,000 has been allocated to the refurbishment of Darent House at Sevenoaks Hospital

Projects to improve a hospital and access to the North Downs Way are among nine schemes which have been awarded Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.

Over half of the £1,751,066.34 allocated by Sevenoaks District Council has been earmarked to help build a new headquarters for Sevenoaks Scouts and refurbish Darent House at Sevenoaks Hospital.

Kent Downs National Landscape Unit has secured £329,932 to improve access to the North Downs Way for older and disabled people.

Councillor Nigel Williams, the council's cabinet member for development and infrastructure, said the funding would "improve residents' health and wellbeing and our environment".

Five parks across Swanley will benefit from a shared £131,634, while £110,000 has been allocated to the cost of a new heating and hot water system at Edenbridge Sports Pavilion.

Safety improvements will be made to the Valley Road footpath in Fawkham, with £20,000 allocated to help pay for a new pedestrian crossing at Dartford Road in Sevenoaks.

Mr Williams said that, since introducing CIL in 2014, the council had secured "nearly £19m in developer contributions".