Ambitious plans to redevelop an area of Tonbridge town centre have been unveiled.
A masterplan for the area around the Sainsbury’s store and Angel Centre east of the High Street sets out a vision for providing new homes, a replacement leisure centre, a GP practice, improved walking routes and a hotel.
The proposals for council owned land, at present mainly used as car parks, has been drawn up by urban planning specialists who say the scheme has potential to deliver “thoughtfully designed homes…helping to energise the high street and to rediscover the relationship between the town, the river and its open spaces”.
Key aspects of the multi-million-pound scheme include:
- 122 new homes at Sovereign Way North car park featuring flood-resilient design
- a replacement leisure centre at Sovereign Way Mid car park
- a modern GP practice on the site of the Sovereign Way East car park
- a hotel at Vale Road car park with potential to offer commercial space
- a riverside park area to make more of the tributary which forms part of the site
All new housing developments will have their own integrated parking spaces. The proposals also suggest retaining the Angel West car park between the High Street and Sainsbury’s for parking. The Sainsbury’s operated Angel East car park, off Avenue De Puy, is not included in the plans and would be retained for parking providing a combined total of 591 spaces.
The masterplan was presented to a meeting of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s cabinet on 30 June. Members gave the go-ahead for a public engagement exercise this summer to be undertaken to obtain views from residents and businesses.
Following feedback from the public, the plans will be reviewed before a decision is made whether to formally adopt the masterplan proposals.
Matt Boughton, Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, said: “These plans offer an opportunity to unlock huge potential for Tonbridge, not only in terms of providing much needed housing, but also making our town a more attractive place to live and work. Improved leisure and health facilities, commercial opportunities and creating an attractive recreation space along the river are also vital parts of the vision being put forward.
“Before any decisions are made, however, we need to know what the people of Tonbridge think and undertake further work to test the commercially viability of different elements of the scheme. We will be shortly sharing more of the details of the masterplan and inviting comments to help shape the next phase of this important project.”
Details of town centre masterplan and an online questionnaire will soon be available from the council’s website pages about the Tonbridge town centre project. Details will be shared via council social media channels, the council app and newsletter. Paper copies of the survey will also be available from Tonbridge Castle and Angel Centre receptions.