Plans are being put in motion to take forward a "dramatically scaled back" scheme to redevelop a town shopping centre.

Controversial proposals, initially lodged by the property developers U+I back in 2017, sought to replace parts of the existing Swanley Square parade and erect hundreds of new high-rise flats.

The original application would have seen seven tower blocks ranging from three to 11 stories high, providing 303 new homes, as well as more than 4,300 metres of commercial and retail space.

But it faced strong local opposition and was refused by Sevenoaks council due to concerns of "over intensification".

The developer appealed the decision to the Planning Inspectorate who eventually gave the green light to the controversial proposals after a four day hearing in 2019.

However, works are still yet to start and previous owners U+I have since sold the 95,000 sq ft shopping complex to investment company Evolve Estates, on an "off-market basis".

It intends to move forward with the scheme but the plans are understood to have now been "dramatically scaled back".

The existing parade is anchored by Asda – although the store was excluded from purchase – and consists of 32 shops, including Boots, Wilko, Poundland and Iceland, as well as planning permission for more than 250 homes.

The new owners say they are working with local stakeholders to ensure Swanley Square becomes a "best-in-class, convenience-led retail parade for the whole community".

An application was recently submitted to Sevenoaks council for prior approval for an additional storey for new flats. But the authority's planning department said it was not needed as the proposal fell under certain permitted development rights.

Danny O’Keefe, director at Evolve Estates, confirmed the "plans were still live" and said key decisions over the project's future would be taken over the next six months.

He said: "We bought the scheme over a year ago and are just letting the plans bed in before we decide which strategy to implement."

Swanley Town Council previously outlined objections to the U&I scheme and vowed to "ensure that promises are kept".

Speaking about the new scheme being brought forward, chief executive, Ryan Hayman said: "These plans are dramatically scaled back to those previously submitted by former owners U&I, which the town fought hard against.

"However, any development to the town centre should not negatively affect the surgeries and we hope that construction is as undisruptive as possible."

Commercial property investment company LCP has been appointed to manage the centre for Evolve Estates, which is part of the LCP group of companies.

Speaking earlier this year, Julian Diamond, LCP head of asset management, said: “As a group company, we work closely with Evolve across its property portfolio.

"We take pride in our intensive asset management approach, so will proactively manage Swanley Square to attract new tenants that will not only enhance the retail offer for the local community, it will also improve footfall for all shops within the scheme.”

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