The Society

We are the official amenity society for Sevenoaks town, and a registered charity, with over 600 members.

By raising public awareness, monitoring developments and working with local authorities and other bodies we help to safeguard the town’s character and its physical and natural heritage. We promote responsible and responsive planning and appropriate building development for the improvement of Sevenoaks and the benefit of its community.

Click here for CONSTITUTION with 2021 amendments as approved at 2021 AGM

Our Aims

Our primary aim is to help ensure that Sevenoaks continues to be a pleasant and attractive place for residents, workers and visitors, by preserving the best of the past and present and embracing appropriate and well thought -through change.

A Brief History

The Society was founded in 1952, as The Sevenoaks Preservation Society. It succeeded The Sevenoaks Civic Society (founded 1944) and before that The Sevenoaks Town Planning Association (established in 1930). In 1996 the Society assumed its current name: “The Sevenoaks Society for the Conservation and Improvement of the Town”. In that same year The Sevenoaks Historical Society was established as a separate, independent entity. Our Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 2012, and we celebrated our Platinum Jubilee in 2022 with a major exhibiton on the history of Sevenoaks over 900 years, at the Kaleidoscope (Library) Gallery.

Our Role

Since its foundation the Society has had a significant influence on the development of the town, monitoring and responding to proposals for new buildings – commercial, civic or domestic; assessing the impact of planning policies, practices and decisions; and being alert to anything that may have an adverse effect on the town’s character, heritage and future development.

We work closely with the various agencies, including Sevenoaks Town and District Councils, the Town Forum, the Town Centre Partnership, with heritage bodies and land-owners such as National Trust; and with the media, including The Sevenoaks Chronicle.

The scope of our work, and our vigilance, ranges from grand houses and estates such as Knole to the historic horse-troughs in the town. We comment on and monitor significant planning developments, propose actions on derelict sites such as "Edwards Electrical" and "The Farmers", urge action where there has been neglect, suggest improvements to building design and landscaping, warn of notable trees that are at risk, highlight the impact of heavy lorries on our town centre roads, encourage appreciation of our many historic building and applaud developments that are innovative yet in character.

We are not afraid to criticise (with constructive advice of course), to speak out publicly and to campaign where necessary. We have recently been involved both financially and in person in a very contentious and major planning appeal. We are represented also at the Town Team - see www.sevenoakspartnership.org