Swanley railway station needs to be moved if radical plans to transform the town are to be realised.

A public consultation into a 20-year blueprint involving the leisure centre, roads, shops, open spaces and other community facilities has come to an end and Sevenoaks council will be considering the comments.

The town centre is outdated and dominated by large food retail “boxes” and surface car parks, the report states. The old High Street is no longer the centre of the town and there are poor links from the town centre to Swanley Park.

Swanley and Hextable experienced rapid growth in development between the 1950s and 1970s and the council believes Swanley, in particular, is in desperate need of serious investment.

The railway line splits the town and “is a barrier to movement”, and the station is poorly located, the consultation document states.

Pedestrian and cycle links between and within Swanley and Hextable also need attention. A new entrance and covered walkway north of the railway line would be prioritised as part of a package, plus a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the railway are being considered.

The “transformational growth” strategy proposes moving the station further east towards the town centre, with improved facilities.

There would be decking over the railway line to create a new green space and improved connections over it, better bus routes plus an interchange linking to the station.

The idea is to “raise the profile and convenience of rail travel for local people and those new to the area”.

The report adds: “It would provide a town centre hub for travel and a range of related activities for those travelling and others.”

The development will cost hundred of millions of pounds and the council is hoping to draw on a number of funding options, including private sector investment attracted by population growth plus an additional charge to developers to improve infrastructure that could net £33 million. An additional New Homes Bonus could gain £31 million of government cash.