Wasps stadium proposal dropped from updated Sevenoaks Local Plan

A proposal for Wasps Rugby Club to establish a new stadium in Sevenoaks district has been left out of the council’s updated Local Plan.

The club announced in October 2023 that it wanted to create a long-term home in Kent, saying it was working with Sevenoaks District Council to identify a suitable location. At the time, Wasps described the move as a potential new chapter for the historic rugby club, following a difficult period after its collapse in 2022.

But the idea has now taken a major step back.

Sevenoaks District Council says the stadium proposal has been removed from the updated Local Plan because it did not receive enough information to show the scheme was suitable. The council said there was particular concern over how key infrastructure in the area would be dealt with.

That means the stadium is no longer being carried forward as part of the latest version of the Local Plan, which is being updated to meet the Government’s increased housing target for the district.

The proposal had attracted strong interest locally. For some, the idea of a major rugby club moving to West Kent could have brought jobs, sport, visitors and wider investment. For others, the prospect of a large stadium raised obvious concerns over traffic, noise, pressure on roads, public transport, parking and the impact on Green Belt land.

The wider Local Plan remains controversial, with Sevenoaks District Council required to plan for 17,460 new homes over 15 years. The council says Government planning changes mean it must consider more development sites, including some Green Belt land.

However, the Wasps stadium proposal is not currently one of the schemes being taken forward in the updated plan.

Councillors on the Development and Infrastructure Advisory Committee are due to consider the revised Local Plan on 30 June 2026, followed by Cabinet on 7 July 2026.

If approved, residents will be able to comment during the Regulation 19 Publication stage, expected to run from 23 July to 17 September 2026. At that stage, comments will focus on whether the plan is legally compliant and sound, rather than suggesting completely new development options.

The Local Plan is expected to be submitted to Government later this year, before being examined by a Planning Inspector in 2027. If approved, it would help decide planning applications from 2028.

Original sources: Sevenoaks District Local Plan updated as council faces 17,460-home target

Wasps statement from October 2023: Wasps announces plans to establish long-term home in Kent