Bat and Ball Community Centre, Sevenoaks

Client: Sevenoaks Town Council
Role: RIBA Client Adviser and Competitions Adviser

S. Williams Architects was appointed by Sevenoaks Town Council to act as RIBA Client Adviser for the Bat and Ball Community Centre—initially supporting the RIBA-led design competition and later expanding her role to provide strategic input across all phases of the project and associated developments.

The site sits at the heart of the Town Council’s wider regeneration strategy, playing a vital role in revitalising this part of Sevenoaks. The new centre was envisioned as a dynamic and inclusive hub that would meet the diverse needs of the local community while contributing to the area’s long-term vibrancy.

At the core of the project is a new 250-seat conference and community hall, complete with kitchen and bar facilities, meeting rooms, offices, and spaces designed to support revenue-generating activity. A dedicated nursery space, meeting OFSTED requirements, forms part of the facility, alongside a separate day nursery replacing outdated modular buildings on site.

During and beyond the design competition, the adjacent Grade II listed Bat and Ball Station was also earmarked for transformation. That building has since been thoughtfully restored and repurposed for community use, now offering a large hall, smaller meeting rooms, a café, and ancillary amenities—work that has gone on to receive multiple awards.

Informed by extensive community engagement, Sarah Williams worked closely with a range of stakeholders throughout the process. Input was gathered from existing user groups and nursery representatives, ensuring that the final design met a broad spectrum of community needs. Sarah played a key role in developing the brief for both the community centre and its related nursery components.

Although the winning competition proposal had initially envisioned a completely new build, practical constraints led to a high-quality refurbishment of the existing facility—balancing ambition with budget while still delivering a transformative outcome.

The centre is now home to a wide array of community activities and services, including:

• Flexible hire spaces for groups such as the National Trust, Montessori School, dance and fitness classes, and tea dances

• A nursery facility catering to young children and early years education

• A separate day nursery supporting local pre-school provision

• A spacious community hall with bar and catering facilities, available for events and functions

• Landscaped gardens and tennis courts enhancing the outdoor offer

• On-site parking to accommodate visitors and staff

With its welcoming and multi-functional design, the Bat and Ball Community Centre now serves as a vibrant anchor for the local community and a valuable civic asset for Sevenoaks.