New plans launched for revamp of Tenterden Recreation Ground

A popular town centre park is set for a million-pound revamp.

New plans for Tenterden Recreation Ground, which could include a pump track, skate park, youth hub, and expanded playground facilities have been drawn up.

New tennis and netball courts would also replace some of the existing football pitch near the leisure centre.

Currently, the scheme is undergoing public consultation before the submission of a full planning application later this year.

A spokesperson for Tenterden Town Council (TTC), which is behind the project, said: “The town council now seeks public views on our revised masterplan for the site.

“Public consultation is a crucial step to be undertaken before preparing and submitting a planning application to Ashford Borough Council.

“We aim to provide new and improved play equipment, offering youngsters opportunities for rich and creative play and develop sports facilities to encourage great participation across all age groups.

“We hope to establish dedicated facilities for young people, preserve community green space and support biodiversity and promote sustainability.

“Residents are urged to help the town council identify and deliver the improvements which meet community needs by sharing thoughts on the planned improvements.”

Originally, plans for the site were put forward in 2021, with the ambitious scheme estimated at £2,849,472.

However, TTC is now looking at ways to reduce the project's cost and has already earmarked £1m for the scheme.

Funds will primarily come from selling TENT 1a development land, which sits to the south of the town between Recreation Ground Road and Smallhythe Road, to developer Dandara in 2015.

Money will also be made available from Section 106 agreements from the Appledore Green development by Redrow and Three Fields by Dandara and Taylor Wimpey.

To ease financial concerns, the project will be divided into several phases: the first will involve revamping the children’s play area, refurbishing the toilet block, completing drainage works, and rewilding the eastern boundary.

The second stage will involve building a new youth hub, skate park, and footpaths connecting different areas of the site. The existing bowls club will remain.

The final phases will depend on the tennis courts' future, which will be moved onto land currently occupied by the football pitch and replaced with a pump BMX track.

However, these stages cannot progress until a suitable alternative is found for the town’s sports teams.

Originally in 2021, old plans, put forward after four years of consultations, received fierce backlash from the Tenterden Tigers football team, who had yet to vacate the town’s only pitch.

Under the new plans, meetings have already been held to discuss moving the club to Appledore Road once the facilities are ready.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

In October last year, Sports England reviewed the current masterplan and said it would not raise a statutory objection to the plans.

TTC hopes to use the next year to gain the necessary planning permissions and prepare the site before issuing a tender for the work with an eye to it starting in 2026.

Residents have until February 2 to log their views on the new masterplan via the Tenterden Town Council website.