Southborough Community Hub

Southborough Hub Update 2nd October 2019

A major step forward in the provision of the new Southborough Community Hub has been taken with the signing of the contract for the building work to begin next month (November) 2019.

The £10million contract with Baxall Construction was signed by all parties on the 1 October 2019.

The project is expected to take about 60 weeks, with completion therefore anticipated in early 2021.

The development on the site of the former town council offices and the Royal Victoria Hall and the surrounding land includes a hall/theatre, community rooms, GP surgery, library, football pavilion and council facilities.

It has been funded largely through the sale of land to Crest Nicholson for a residential development and contributions from all three partners, Southborough Town Council, Kent County Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Working closely with the NHS the project has also secured a significant grant of £4.2M towards the new GP surgery that will seek to ensure the local service can cater for more patients in Southborough and High Brooms. The grant has seen St Andrews Medical Centre supported by West Kent Clinical Care Commissioning Group and NHS England.

Following a bid to the Premier League Football Foundation, the hub project was also awarded a grant of £500,000 towards the construction of a new pavilion to serve the sports facilities. The funding has been jointly awarded to KCC and Southborough Town Council and follows extensive input from Tunbridge Wells Youth Football Club, which assisted in the preparation of the bid. This football club has been granted a long lease on the premises while also protecting the fields through a restriction on the land.

Tom Sullivan, club secretary for Tunbridge Wells Youth FC, said: “We are delighted that contracts have now been signed and the construction will commence of our new clubhouse.

“We would like to thank the club members and the wider Southborough and Tunbridge Wells community for their support in this process and are excited at the prospect of having superb facilities for our local children as well as the wider community.”

Peter Oakford, the Deputy Leader of KCC and local Kent County Councillor said: “I am delighted that we have reached this important milestone so we can see the construction of the hub finally get under way.”

Mr Oakford, a previous chairman of the town council, said he had sought election to STC primarily to instigate the hub project and see it through to fruition.

“It has taken a lot of effort by many people to get to this stage and, once completed, I am sure residents will appreciate the hub as a very welcome addition to the town’s facilities.”

Nick Blackwell, STC Hub Board representative said; “I am extremely pleased that STC can now play its part in delivering the Hub for all residents of Southborough and High Brooms after so many years of waiting for it. We will be reaching out to the community as the project reaches fruition for their ideas and contributions in shaping the facility and ensuring its long term success”

Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, who is also chairman of the hub management board, said: “Signing this contract is a significant step forward in the hub project and I am particularly pleased to see new a library provision incorporated in the impressive new facilities.”

Carol Mackonochie, TWBC Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing and a member of the Hub Management Board said “Following hard work by many people, an important stage has been reached. The Hub and surrounds will protect services, provide new openings and grow and benefit Southborough. I look forward to the opening.”

Jonathan White
07988 375334

2^nd Floor Invicta House
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 1XX

Jonathan.white@kent.gov.uk

Following the Consultation on the development of the Southborough Hub, the results were analysed by an independent Company.

To view their report, please click on the link. Southborough Hub Consultation Report

Equality Impact Assessment

To see the latest update click the link.

Please note – Minutes with a ‘d’ beside them indicate that these are draft and may be amended at the next meeting.

Redacted minutes of the Southborough Hub Project Board Meetings – It is necessary to take out any commercially sensitive information.

29.06.2015 05.08.2015 09.09.2015 05.11.2015 19.01.2016

01.03.2016 04.04.2016 05.05.2016 07.07.2016 21.07.2016

06.10.2016 07.12.2016 24.01.2017 13.03.2017 15.05.2017