Hawkhurst has moved a step closer to getting its long-awaited new community centre.

The parish council has submitted a planning application for a two-storey building to be erected on the King George V Playing Fields at The Moor.

The centre will replace Copt Hall, which has become too costly to maintain, and also replace the existing sports pavilion and three storage garages at the King George V Playing Field.

The new building will include a main hall to seat 220, a small hall to seat 50, meeting rooms, a parish office, cafe, kitchen and changing rooms.

The parish council has purchased some adjacent land, so that although the community centre will take up more space than the existing pavilion, the loss of the playing field will be compensated for. The scheme does mean the re-location of the existing play area.

The number of parking spaces will be increased from 10 to 66 and there will additionally be three disabled bays and one for a light goods vehicle.

Six electric charging points will be supplied.

The parish came close to getting a new community centre once before. A previous planning application was approved in May, 2012, but never proceeded with amid continuing questions over whether The Moor was the right place for it given its distance from the village centre.

However, having gone through the whole process again, the parish council has decided the proposed location is the only feasible place.

The centre will be managed by the Hawkhurst Community Trust 2018, an independent charity.

The 2012 centre was budgeted to cost £2m. The current proposal is expected to cost £3.5m, although some £400,000 will be gained from selling the Copt Hall site for the development of three houses.

Residents can give their views on the current application via the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council website. Application number 21/03490 refers. Comments must be made by December 14.