Divestment of KCC-owned windmills
Notice is hereby given that Kent County Council ("the Council") intends to divest selected windmill assets owned by the Council in accordance with the Key Decision approved by the Council in 2024 (Decision reference: 24/000068).
The Council is seeking expressions of interest and bids from suitably qualified organisations, trusts, charities, community groups, businesses or other parties that can demonstrate their ability to safeguard, manage and maintain these heritage assets for the benefit of current and future generations.
The windmills available for divestment comprise historic mill properties located within Kent. Further details regarding the individual windmills, the divestment process, timescales and evaluation requirements will be provided to interested parties upon request.
Interested parties will be invited to submit bids, which will be assessed against criteria including, but not limited to:
- Long-term stewardship and preservation of the asset
- Financial sustainability and viability
- Heritage conservation credentials and proposed maintenance arrangements
- Community access, engagement and educational benefits
- Deliverability of the proposal and organisational capability
- Alignment with the Council's objectives for the future management of the asset.
The sites are shown edged red on the plans for identification purposes. The plans are available in the ‘Documents’ section on this page and can also be inspected during normal business hours at Sessions House, County Road, Maidstone ME14 1XQ, or at a local library:
| Windmill | Library | Address | Opening times |
|---|---|---|---|
Chillenden Windmill, Chillenden, Canterbury, CT3 1QE | Aylesham Library | Ackholt Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 3AJ | Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30am to 5pm (closed 12:30pm to 1:30pm) Friday: 9:30am to 4pm (closed 12:30pm to 1pm) Saturday: 9:30am to 1:30pm |
Cranbrook Union Windmill, The Hill, Cranbrook, TN17 3AH | Cranbrook Library | Carriers Road, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3JT | Tuesday to Friday: 10am to 5pm (closed 1pm to 2pm) Saturday: 10am to 2pm |
Drapers Windmill, St Peters Footpath, College Road, Margate, CT9 2SP | Margate Library | Thanet Gateway plus, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent, CT9 1RE | Monday, Thursday and Friday: 10am to 5:30pm Tuesday: 10am to 5pm Saturday: 10am to 3:30pm |
Herne Windmill, Mill Lane, Herne, CT6 7DR | Herne Bay Library | 124 High Street, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5JY | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10am to 5pm Thursday: 10am to 6pm Saturday: 10am to 4pm |
Meopham Windmill, South Street, Meopham, DA12 1DA | Gravesend Library | Windmill Street, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1BE | Monday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm |
Stelling Minnis Windmill, Mill Lane, Stelling Minnis, Canterbury, CT14 6AF | Deal Library | Broad Street, Deal, Kent, CT14 6ER | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9:30am to 5:30pm Wednesday: 9:30am to 1:30pm Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 4pm |
West Kingsdown Windmill, Pells Lane, West Kingsdown, TN15 6AU | West Kingsdown Library | London Road, West Kingsdown, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 6EL | Monday and Saturday: 10am to 2pm Tuesday: 9am to 4pm (closed 12pm to 1pm) Thursday: 1pm to 5pm Friday: 10am to 2pm |
This notice is published to ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to participate in the divestment process.
For further information and to express an interest regarding the windmills and the divestment process, interested parties should contact the Council by completing the online expression of interest form.
Alternatively you can write to us by:
- email: windmills@kent.gov.uk
- post: Windmills Divestment, Investment and Disposals, Property Strategy, Deputy Chief Executive’s Department, Kent County Council, Sessions House, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XQ
All expressions of interest to be submitted by 5pm on Friday 18 September 2026.
Formal bids in accordance with the Council’s bid evaluation criteria to be submitted by 5pm Friday 13 November 2026.
The Council reserves the right not to proceed with the divestment of any asset and is under no obligation to accept any proposal received.
