Residents urged to comment on Spitals Cross community improvements

Published: Wednesday, 23rd March 2022

The Council is set to unveil its ideas to create additional parking, to regenerate the FTRA club and the community shop and provide new high quality homes on the Spitals Cross Estate, Edenbridge.

The Fircroft Tenants’ & Residents’ Association (FTRA) club and the shop were built in the 1960s and have served the community well for the best part of 60 years. But both are now in need of improvement. With increased car ownership over the past six decades, since the estate was built, parking is also an issue. The Council is in the early stages of developing plans to address these issues.

The Council wants to provide new off road parking for the new homes and for the existing community.

The new, modernised FTRA club, could include a fit-for purpose hall with a kitchen and improved storage. It could once again become a community space at the hub of the estate and a home for youth clubs, charity and fun events and local groups of all ages.

The shop too would be modernised with more floor space than the current store.

To pay for the improved community facilities, the Council is planning to build 33 high quality homes on the estate.

A proportion of the new homes would be affordable, with the other homes made available for sale.

Residents can find out more and have their say on these initial ideas at two drop in sessions (no appointment necessary) at the FTRA club on Farmstead Drive on:

  • Wednesday 6 April 2022, 4pm to 8pm
  • Saturday 9 April 2022, 10am to 2pm.

An online survey seeking residents’ views will be open from 4pm on Wednesday 6 April until 5pm on Monday 25 April 2022. 

Further information is available at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/spitalscross.

Cllr Peter Fleming, Leader of the Council, says: “We also know that finding a parking space on the estate can be difficult and while the shop and club have served residents well for many generations, they have become dated and are in need of improvement.

“We are proposing a package of improvements that will give local residents the facilities they deserve.

“This is a major investment in Edenbridge and the biggest on the Spitals Cross Estate since it was built, so we’re keen for local people to share their views at this early stage.”