Shaping the Future of
Paddock Wood
Community Centre(s)
February 2014
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Summary
Current community facilities for Paddock Wood appear to be inadequate.
The Wesley Centre is already allocated by policy and used for this purpose. It does
not, however, have the capacity to cater for large scale events and meet current and
future needs.
Faced with proposals of housing developments (Policy AL/PW3) need for capacity is
likely to increase. The population may increase by 20% and their need is unknown.
If suitable sites are lost to other types of development, remaining sites might be too
small, poorly located or otherwise inadequate to meet the community’s needs.
The Town Council was recently asked to suggest suitable sites from within the
allocated development areas (TWBC). Within a very tight time scale Town
Councillors have explored the potential at different sites across Paddock Wood.
PWTCllrs have also visited other areas including St Marys Island, Ditton, Headcorn,
Cranbrook and Hawkhurst.
The Town Council have voted on sites based on evidence so far. This includes an
option to build on its own land.
Green lane, St Andrews Field, Memorial Field have been suggested.
Whilst the public are aware and some engagement has occurred, opinion has not yet
been fully measured about the relative merits of these locations and whether
residents would wish PWTC to use its own land or would suggest other sites.
The Planning Allocations DPD requires the town to identify the needs and
infrastructure by Jan 2014.
A finding of the investigations is that there is still a lot of work to do. It is not yet
established who will manage any new community facility
More time is needed to assess current and future community needs as well as
related infrastructure issues given the scale of the proposed housing developments.
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Contents (needs setting out when doc complete)
2. Summary
A period of change for the town
3.TWBC Local plan proposed timescales (03/12/13, James Freeman)
4. Research sources
Review of existing facilities
Supporting information
Appendices
A Period of change for the town:
1. Potential new developments represent opportunity and need to consider
infrastructure, including community, to support those changes
2. Planning Allocations DPD programme requires the town to identify the needs and
infrastructure by the end of January 2014.
3. It is important that provision is made in the final Site Allocations DPD for community
facilities at Paddock Wood. If not, the risk is that suitable sites are lost to other types
of development and that remaining sites are too small, poorly located or otherwise
inadequate to meet the community’s needs.
Policy AL/PW3, which allocates a major extension to the east of Paddock Wood at Church
Farm / Mascalls Court Road for 650 homes and a primary school, adds that if additional
community facilities are required up to 2026, options to provide these facilities should be
explored within the allocated area. (Adrian Tofts TWBC Nov 2013)
This Submission to TWBC by PWTC needs to demonstrate –
1. The community needs for Paddock Wood and its immediate area both currently and
into the future having particular regard to the possible allocation of sites for new
housing.
2. the preferred sites to accommodate this need support the planning policy process in
allocating the most appropriate site, (or sites).
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In order to propose and successfully defend a site allocation for community facilities through
the planning process, the Borough Council will need to demonstrate that the proposed site(s)
is/are:
 available for development (for example that landowner(s) is/are willing for the
site(s) to be developed for community uses)

suitable for development (for example that the site(s) can be adequately
accessed by pedestrians, cyclists and by car, the area is sufficient for the uses
proposed, the impacts of any development are acceptable and there are no
overriding constraints that would prevent development)

likely to come forward for the development proposed
TWBC Local Plan Proposed Timescales (as at 03/12/13)
LDF Core Strategy Development Plan Doc (DPD) adopted 2010
Site Allocations DPD consultation Draft April 2013
Consultation completed
Submission consultation May 2014
Submission to SoS September 2014
Examination early 2015
Adoption Mid 2015
List of Research sources/ meetings
Original reports are available in PWTC offices
(brief reports should really be in an appendix...as TWBC & others may need or want to see
these..but not sure we can compile all this in time...need more time and we should ask for it I
think.)
1. SUCCEED
2. PWTC Working Party Report & Data
3. Questionnires PW Carnival 2012
4. Visit s by Cllrs
Mascalls School, Putlands Leisure Centre, Wesley Centre
Cranbrook, St Marys Island, Ditton, Headcorn, Hawkhurst.
5. Informal Meetings/ workshops Clrs
5th Dec 2013 (TWBC officer present):14th Jan 2014
Meeting 14th Jan. Podmore: 0-18yrs provision: Health Centre Manager,Childrens
Centre Manager, Youth Centre Manager.
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Review of existing facilities
The Wesley Centre is already allocated for community use: It is well used and owned by the
Borough Council. It is currently occupied by the Children’s Centre, some classes take place
in the evenings and the Community Food Bank is based there. (The latter agreed with CRB
for duration of existing lease). It is confirmed the Childrens Centre will remain in PW but
provision may change.
As agreed by PWTC the BC has been in negotiation with the Clerk to Council and Chairman
to assess future potential. The BC have carried out a survey and discussions are ongoing.
Options will be presented to PWTC to consider when available.
The Wesley Centre was built in 1888. It is the only Victorian building left in PW for
community use
Mascall School: Large scale versatile and well used halls. Sports halls and all weather
outside floodlit sports areas. All are available for hire, for example conference facilities with
break out areas and the sports training. Priority is usually for school use but users come to
train from other areas (eg Brighton). Access to facilities is possible during school time.
Mascalls Gallery: used for quality high profile art exhibitions throughout the year. Area used
for some functions and meetings. Access available during school hours.
Youth Centre: Youth Groups, manager part employed by KCC & Mascalls School. Area
used for activities and different groups. Need identified for additional outdoor facilities and lit
pitches for youth sports.
Masonic Hall & Social Club (licenced bars). Large hall suitable for functions and with
catering facilities and licenced bar. Parking can be difficult in the area but a popular venue.
Social Club may be struggling for members (tbc)
Primary School Hall Used as base for Baptist church, meetings and functions. Archery
Club meets here.
St Andrews Church: Versatile Halls used for youth groups, rehearsals exhibitions, U3A
(has expended and may need more space for large scale monthly meetings..Likely to
continue to expand as no university/ college adult ed facilities nearby)
Putlands Leisure Centre is owned by TWBC & run by Fusion on behalf of the Borough
Council.. Sports Hall..height allows for trampolining. Used for badminton. There are a range
of activities including fitness and gym equipment and also childrens events. Therapy /
massage rooms.. Well used and popular. Need identified to expand or redesign space .
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Day Centre owned by the BC & let out by PWTC. Relatively small capacity with catering
facilities but well booked. Used for Council and other meetings and limited to non
commercial activities . Users include Derby & Joan Club
Podmore Building PWT offices..on recreational area with sports pitch and childrens play
area. Used for meetings but capacity limited
Scallywags building: owned by the TC and let to a nursery .......could easily expand in
terms of demand.
Library: Located in Town Centre in leased accommodation (private landlord). Some group
activities take place here but facilities limited & not ideal for group work
Woodlands Health Centre: Has planned for expansion. No further facilities required for
health consultations or teaching space, but car parking remains a problem. Recent
suggestion for Nurses to run sexual health clinic at Mascalls Youth Centre as discretion /
confidential attendance difficult.
Catholic hall (Mount Pleasant?).......
Compaid;........
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Projected need
whether there is currently an unmet demand for certain types of facilities
Sports hall / open space for Youth groups. Childrens Centre (?) Adult Ed
whether some groups travel to use facilities in neighbouring areas
Drama, Flower Club, Youth
whether groups currently share facilities or would consider sharing and
whether these arrangements are successful
Storage an issue. Schools share their hall facilities. Day Centre, Wesley Centre
Health Centre
whether organisations currently have underused spaces or facilities they
would be willing to share with others
Schools tbc, Wesley centre (evenings?) Other parishes perhaps
for groups and organisations that are expanding, the type and size of facility
they would like to have access to
Adult Education / facilities for holding courses. U3A large and varied. Sports fields /
outside areas for youth groups. Scouts?
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Assessment based on future projection might include any available /projected demographic
information from KCC Education and TWBC Policy. (stats from Childrens Centre)
Identified Site Options: that might accommodate the above needs
1. Putlands
2. Mascalls Court
3. Elm Tree
4. Church Farm
5. Green Lane
6. St Andrews
7. Hop Pocket
8. Nursery Road
9. Memorial /Maidstone Road
10. Badsell Road
(Town Centre has been raised but there is complex private ownership)
Location Map at appendix 6
Option(s) on main currently proposed development sites?
These sites have all been assessed generally in terms of their suitability and availability in
order to focus further on the key ones.
At an informal meeting of PWTC on 14th Jan 5 sites were identified by Cllrs as having
potential to meet the needs.
At Full Council meeting on 20th Jan Cllrs voted in favour of 3
1. Mascalls Court Persimmons site with potential to join PWTC owned land at Green
lane
2. St Andrews currently owned by PWTC
3. Memorial field, currently owned by PWTC
Two further sites suggested were not on the original grid:
Town Centre & Mascalls (potentially Berkley) site.
(NB TWBC Planning policy will also undertake a similar sieving exercise to consider the
choice(s). TWBC will also conduct another public consultation on the allocation doc. (May
2014 see schedule above)
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DRAFT
Paddock Wood Sites Matrix 2
Option
Road access
Ped. access
Relationships
Capacity of site
Ownership
Score
1
Putlands
14
2
Mascalls Court
13
3
Elm Tree
10
4
Church Farm
10
5
Green Lane
14
6
St Andrews
11
7
Hop Pocket
9
8
Nursery Road
7
9
Memorial
12
10
Badsell Road
10
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Assessment of options
L – Low
M - Medium
H – High
Road access – Is there good and convenient vehicle access to primary road network
Ped access – Adequacy of existing and future footpath network for pedestrians and cyclists
Relationships – Is it convenient location for majority of residents/users. Is it in combination with existing facilities. Is there any potential for
combined management/dual use of facilities
Capacity of site – Any physical or other site constraints. Is site capable of accommodating building and associated parking
Ownership- Availability of site, any associated costs of acquisition, legal constraints etc,
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