RADICAL new plans have been unveiled which could transform the character and appearance of a neglected area of Sevenoaks.

The owners of the site of the Lancaster garage at the Bat and Ball junction have announced plans to turn the land into a shopping centre.

Bob Porritt, a consultant of the site's owner Claverton Holdings, said: "The idea is to regenerate the area and to make it as much a part of Sevenoaks as possible.

"There would be cafe bars, restaurants, fresh produce and maybe a delicatessen."

St John's Hill has recently attracted criticism from traders and residents because of the number of empty and derelict shop units and the lack of community shops.

But Mr Porritt said: "If we move into this more upmarket type of shopping, it will pull the other shops up."

He claimed the new use of the site as a shopping area would provide an outlet for local farmers.

He said: "What we anticipate is putting two or three shops there that can be rented for a month at a time for just their produce."

These, he said, would be mixed with more permanent shops. But he said the development might require some alterations to the area's current parking arrangements and suggested this could be achieved by merging St John's and St James' car parks into one and introducing an hour's free parking.

The project would take place within the existing buildings, which are currently used as a showroom for Maserati cars.

Ian Barrow, general manager of garage owner the Jardine Motor Group, said he fully supported the scheme.

The organisation has 18 months to run on its lease and is looking to move to bigger premises in the Sevenoaks area.

"It's good news," he said. "It was always our intention that we would develop into a full blown facility with after-sales support and a fully integrated workshop.

"At the moment it's just a showroom."

Mr Barrow added nothing had been decided, but one of the sites being looked at was land at the former Fox's Garage in Badgers Mount, also owned by Mr Porritt.

He hopes the move will create 10 new jobs. The plans, which have been in the pipeline at the company for six months, have not yet been formally submitted to Sevenoaks District Council, but Mr Porritt said he had spoken informally to one or two councillors.

Sevenoaks Town councillor for the St John's ward Cllr Ann Dawson said she had spoken to Mr Porritt. She said: "I have told him I will not commit myself without seeing plans, but, on the face of it, it seems like a very interesting suggestion.

"I would hope if he is doing something there that might revitalise some of the other empty shops." Referring to the current location of the Lancaster garage, she said: "I think the garage is probably in the wrong place. I have always been quite astonished that they had a really high-priced garage on the Bat and Ball junction."