Sevenoaks Town Council submits further objection to the proposed installation of BT Street Hubs across Sevenoaks Town
Published: 02 December 2025
An Appeal has been lodged by BT Telecommunications PLC against the District Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the installation of a BT Street Hub outside Sevenoaks Station*.
On receiving notice of the Appeal, Sevenoaks Town Council – which recommended refusal of the original planning application on the grounds of highway safety concerns and objection to internally illuminated signs – has agreed to submit further representation to the Planning Inspector, reiterating its safety concerns and highlighting the negative impact that other such structures have been observed to have on the streetscape and public realm.
Sevenoaks Town Council does not consider the significant bulk, street clutter, noise, brightness and overall pavement-dominance to be justified against the various benefits advertised within the application’s Design and Access Statement – particularly in light of there being no evidence to suggest that there is a local need for such structures. The Town Council further believes that the proposed Hubs would do little to enhance the character Sevenoaks, adding unnecessary visual clutter to an important gateway to Sevenoaks Town.
Pictured above: A mock-up image showing the BT Hub's proposed placement,
submitted as part of the planning application's supporting plans and elevations
pack.
*This was one of four Full planning applications (and further four associated Advertisement consent applications) which were submitted in tandem with each other and proposing to remove various payphone kiosks within Sevenoaks Town, and replace them with 1.236m x 0.35m x 2.980m BT Street Hubs. It, along with two of the other four planning applications, was Refused planning permission on the grounds of distraction to motorists and pedestrians at busy junctions, unacceptable risk to public safety, and unacceptable impact to the streetscene and character via street clutter. The remaining application, which proposed to install a BT Street Hub behind the 136 High Street development site on Buckhurst Lane / Suffolk Way was successful.
The locations and corresponding planning application references, as well as current status are as follows:
It is not currently known whether similar Appeals have been lodged against the other two refusals of permission – for the pavement outside Sainsburys Local on St John’s Hill, or for the pavement outside Sevenoaks Post Office. For more information, please contact:
Georgie Elliston – Planning Committee Clerk
01732 459953 – planning@sevenoakstown.gov.uk
02/12/2025