Protest Over New Stadium Deals Another Blow to Wasps RFC Comeback Hopes

Around 100 people walked through Sevenoaks town centre after travelling in from Farningham, Eynsford, Crockenhill, Edenbridge, Ash, Biggin Hill, Otford, Kemsing, Badgers Mount, Halstead and Knockholt.

The protest was organised as part of the Protect Our Green Belt Together

Wasps owner Christopher Holland has confirmed the club has secured a 10-year option on privately owned land south of Swanley in Kent.

Sevenoaks District Council said the proposed stadium on the outskirts of Swanley has been promoted by the club as part of the area’s new local plan and insisted the public will be consulted before anything is finalised.

Campaign organiser Su Hewitt, from Farningham, said residents were united in opposition.

“We’re all against the destruction of the greenbelt,” she said.
“A quarter of the Wasps site and the whole of Pedham Place site is within a National Landscape area. It seems the council doesn’t want to protect anything.”

She also warned the development would pile pressure on already stretched services.

“We are already swamped. We don’t have enough GP cover and the traffic at Junction 3 on the M25 is horrendous already. This will make it worse.”

Wasps have been radio silent on a potential return to rugby after initially targeting a comeback in 2024.

The six-time Premiership champions were relegated after entering administration in 2022 with debts of £95 million.