When developers of projects over a certain size seek planning permission they have to pay a "Community Infrastructure Levy' or CIL to the local authority.

Sevenoaks District Council has just announced it is distributing £2m of such CIL money to support local community projects.

The biggest cash injection has been allocated to Trinity School and to the Weald of Kent Grammar School and Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys annexes in Sevenoaks, where £1.5m has been agreed for the creation of playing fields and other sporting facilities at the three schools - on the proviso that when the facilities are not being used by the schools, they will be open for use by community sporting groups. The three schools share a site in Seal Hollow Road.

In addition, £158,000 has been allocated to Orchards Academy in Swanley to improve sports and hall facilities and to make them available to the public when the schools are not using them.

The improvements include new flooring, roof insulation and the redesign of the changing rooms.

Other projects include allocating £117, 380 for an extension to the Kemsing branch of the Otford Medical Practice.

The money will be used for a first floor extension, building a further three clinical rooms, patient toilets and an extended waiting area.

A further £49,507 was awarded to Otford Parish Council to introduce traffic-calming measures in the village.

This is to improve road safety for pedestrians, ease congestion and encourage sustainable modes of travel.

Further to this, £15,000 has been set aside for Weald Parish Council for the maintenance and renovation of Weald Memorial Hall.

The hall hosts activities, programmes and events and is especially important for residents who cannot travel outside of the village.

Finally, £200,000 was allocated to the Knockholt Village Centre refurbishment.

Once finished, the centre will be available for pre-school use with new space for historical records, heritage archives and a community-based library.

The Sevenoaks District Council portfolio holder for development and conservation, Cllr Julia Thornton, said: “We are delighted to be able to use this CIL money to champion these much needed local community projects and improve our residents’ quality of life.

"I am thrilled that these six worthy projects from all around the district have benefited from this latest round of CIL funding allocation.

"New developments naturally add additional pressure to existing infrastructure, such as health provision, sporting facilities, educational needs and highways improvements, so CIL funding is an important mechanism for us to be able to help our infrastructure providers meet these additional needs.”

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