Larkfield Football Clubs Demand Urgent Action on 3G Shortfall as Housing Growth
Continues
Larkfield & New Hythe FC and Larkfield Youth FC have called for urgent action from
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council to address what the Council’s own evidence
confirms is an immediate and significant shortfall in all-weather 3G football provision.
The clubs have been working constructively for over three years on proposals to deliver
a community sports hub at Oast Park — a site identified as the only realistic opportunity
in the local area capable of providing a 3G facility without requiring direct Council capital
funding. Despite extensive engagement, Oast Park was not included in the Council’s
draft Local Plan and all the sports facilities which previously included two 3G all weather
pitches, padel tennis and a golf driving range within the scheme have now been
removed.
This comes at a time when development proposals for Oast Park have increased to over
300 houses, without accompanying sports infrastructure. The clubs are asking a simple
question: how can housing continue to move forward while the infrastructure needed to
support existing and future residents remains unaddressed?
The Borough’s adopted Playing Pitch Strategy confirms there is a current shortfall of
approximately three full-sized 3G pitches in Tonbridge & Malling. Crucially, the Strategy
also states that all existing 3G facilities have no effective spare capacity today.
The situation has been made significantly worse since the sale of K Sports, Cobdown, in
June 2024. When the site was purchased by London City Lionesses, community access
ceased immediately, displacing 17 clubs and 98 teams overnight. Twenty months on, no
equivalent replacement capacity has been delivered.
Larkfield alone currently runs 31 teams — the majority youth sides — including eight
girls’ teams. None have access to a dedicated all-weather training facility within the
Malling area. During winter months, children regularly lose matches due to weather
disruption and are forced to travel significant distances to access already oversubscribed
3G facilities. With continued housing growth in the area, there is currently no spare
capacity for additional young players to join local teams.
The clubs had proposed Oast Park as a deliverable solution — a privately-led
development that included a community 3G facility funded through a combination of
developer contributions and external funding. That opportunity has stalled, yet housing
numbers have increased.
The clubs are now exploring a “Plan B” option to install a 3G pitch at their existing
ground. However, this would require a blended funding solution, including Section 106
Larkfield and New Hythe Football Club Ltd

Established 1961

Adj 251 New Hythe Lane
Larkfield
Kent
ME20 6PU

contributions and support from the FA and other partners, as the original relocation
proposal would have funded new facilities through land receipts.
“We have been working constructively for three years to find a solution,” a club
spokesperson said. “We are simply asking that infrastructure keeps pace with
development. The Council’s own evidence shows there is no spare 3G capacity today.
Children are already feeling the impact.”
“If we can build hundreds of houses, we can build one community 3G pitch.”
The clubs have written to Council Leader Cllr Matt Boughton requesting clarity on
intended actions and delivery timescales, and have also contacted local MP Tristan
Osborne seeking support to ensure appropriate sports infrastructure is prioritised
alongside housing growth.
Larkfield & New Hythe FC and Larkfield Youth FC have reiterated their willingness to
work with the Borough Council, Parish Council, the FA and Sport England to secure a
deliverable, funded solution that meets the needs of local children and families.