Downe Scout Activity Centre

Downe
Owner	The Scout Association
Location	Orpington, Greater London
Country	United Kingdom
Founded	unknown
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Downe Scout Activity Centre was one of the National Scout Activity Centres under the direct control of The Scout Association in Downe near Orpington, Greater London. It provided camping and indoor accommodations for Scouts and Guides.

The Downe site of 86 acres is 16 miles (26 km) from the centre of London near the Biggin Hill airfield.

In November 2020 the Scout Association announced their intention to sell the site.^[1] The Scout Association said it would do everything possible "to make sure that the legacies are honoured and heritage preserved"^[2]

In late July 2021 The Scout Association trustees unanimously agreed to sell the site to Friends of Downe Activity Centre, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1194761). Friends of Downe Activity Centre hoped to ensure that future generations of young people were able to enjoy the site.^[3]

Negotiations followed, and unfortunately, an agreement couldn’t be reached. The Scout Association decided to sell to another party, which failed to proceed and then again to a different party, which also failed to proceed. Friends of Downe were offered the opportunity to bid again in December 2023. TSA then informed them they would take the site to auction, mid-February and that Friends of Downe could proceed with their bid outside of this process as a parallel planning opportunity for The Scout Association.

Towards the end of April 2024, Friends of Downe Activity Centre (FoDAC) agreed and signed a contract with The Scout Association (TSA) for the purchase of Downe Activity Centre. The site purchase will be completed in the summer of 2024. ^[4]

Downe is registered as an Asset of Community Value with the London Borough of Bromley and this will remain a material consideration in any planning applications for some years to come. Since June 2022, the whole site has been covered by a TPO (Tree Protection Order). The TPO prevents trees from being removed or pruned without formal prior permission from the London Borough of Bromley Planning.