Royal Victoria Place redevelopment FAQs

The Council owns the freehold of Royal Victoria Place shopping centre. In 2023 we bought the lease of the shopping centre to give us greater control over its future.

Owning the freehold and the lease gives the Council more opportunity to influence the economic development of Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre and the wider borough. In the long term there is significant added value for the Council in owning both the freehold and the lease; in the short to medium-term it is a commitment by the Council to the town centre and its future prosperity.

This is in line with the objectives of the Council’s Strategic Plan.

The Council acquired RVP in 2023 with the intention of stabilising the centre, reducing the number of vacant units with a longer term aim of improving the retail and leisure offer in the town centre. The strategy was set out in the acquisition business plan and has been updated in subsequent business plans. The Council has made progress in reducing the number of vacant retail units and introducing new tenants including Kidsbury, Jamaica Blue, Sostrene Grene and Primark.  Footfall is increasing, reflecting the increased number of visitors to the centre and the RVP has hosted a number of events supporting charities and the community since being in the Council’s ownership.

At this stage in ownership, the Council is possibly best placed to deliver the transformative investment that the shopping centre and the town needs.

The aim of the development is to increase vitality of RVP and the town centre and to improve the evening economy.  The proposed scheme, strongly supported through the public engagement that has taken place so far, is for a multi-screen boutique cinema, leisure and dining offer, in combination with improvements to the retail space. This will be focused on the Ely Court and Palm Court areas of the centre A separate residential development on Market Square is proposed. The designs for this part of the scheme are progressing at a different pace to ensure that the right development is brought forward.

A timetable was set out in the feasibility report and this has been updated as the designs have progressed. The latest programme provides for development commencing on site in late 2027 if the necessary statutory permissions are in place.  It is anticipated that the build period will be 18 months to 2 years.

When the Council acquired RVP we were aware that several of the buildings purchased by a previous owner for a redevelopment that fell through, were uninhabitable and in need of major refurbishment or redevelopment. These included the buildings at the corner of Calverley Road and Camden Road, adjoining Ely Court.

It also included clearing the former food court in preparation for development.  At that time some refurbishment had been done by the previous owner but it did not include the cleared food court or extend into Palm Court.

The consequence was that even if the Council decided to do nothing there are significant costs attached to the maintenance/replacement work that need to be addressed in Ely Court and Palm Court and maintenance/replacement work will provide little or no revitalisation benefit to Royal Victoria Place or the town.

The proposed development creates new opportunities for Ely Court, Palm Court and as a later phase, for Market Square.  These opportunities will bring increased economic benefits to RVP and to the town centre.

A leisure led, mixed-use development with a multi-screen boutique cinema, leisure and dining offer together with improvements to the retail environment and a residential development could cost between £42m and £68m (prices as at June 2025) depending on how the scheme delivery is managed. The Council is continuing to assess the delivery of the scheme as the design is developed and finalised.

The Council has outlined a funding strategy which assumes that the gross capital cost will be funded from external borrowing. It shows that the recommended option is viable when considering the financial and wider economic benefits it generates; this is supported by the economic study. The initial funding strategy was published in the financial summary in exempt appendices of the feasibility report viewable by Councillors. The funding strategy is being updated and Councillors on the Investment Advisory Panel are being kept informed.

Amion Consulting was commissioned to provide a report detailing the economic benefits of developing Royal Victoria Place. Their report provides a complete picture of the economic, financial and social benefits of the development against the Council’s Strategic Objectives and to ensure alignment with Royal Victoria Place’s business plan. The report also considered and contrasted the alternative options. As the designs have evolved, Amion have been asked to review their report to check the updated designs against the identified economic benefits so that the council may be reassured that the developed designs continue to deliver a viable scheme.

After an extensive review of town centre locations, Ely Court, including the Friendly Societies Hall was identified as the only site capable of accommodating the specific structural requirements of a modern boutique cinema. While we recognise the history of the Victoria Snooker Centre within the Friendly Societies Hall, this transition allows us to meet the substantial public demand for a local cinema and increase footfall for neighbouring businesses.

Businesses currently in Ely Court are defined are short term lets, ‘Meanwhile Uses’, offering small and start-up businesses the opportunity to develop while the longer term future of the centre is considered. The terms entered into by the businesses reflect this and they will need to relocate. We are discussing future opportunities in the shopping centre with them but they may need to relocate to another town centre location.

We are committed to preserving the unique architectural heritage of Tunbridge Wells. Our plans prioritise the retention of original building frontages and sight lines, ensuring that the new cinema integrates seamlessly into the existing streetscape. By maintaining these key features, we aim to deliver a modern facility that respects the historic fabric and visual identity of the top-of-town Conservation Area.

The height of Ely Court will reflect its status as a significant destination in the town centre but will be similar to the existing and nearby building height. There will be no change to the height of Palm Court. It is important that we get the height of new buildings in Market Square right, and that is one of the reasons why Market Square will be designed to a different timetable to Ely Court and Palm Court.  The Council will take the time to consider the design demands for Market Square while enabling the development of Palm Court and Ely Court to progress.

The new development and improvements will be paid back for through external funding which will be paid back from funds the council receives directly from the new tenants and wider benefits. The improvements are also expected to bring forward wider use and regeneration of the town centre.

The regeneration of Royal Victoria Place is expected to create around 200 jobs during construction, providing a significant short-term boost to the local economy.

Once complete, the development will support long-term employment opportunities across shops, cafés, restaurants and leisure venues. By attracting investment and increasing footfall in the town centre, the scheme will help strengthen local businesses, create new opportunities for residents, and support a vibrant and resilient local economy.

As part of our engagement, we have been holding dedicated sessions with local businesses, tenants, and key stakeholders representing a wide range of community groups across civic, community, business, and accessibility interests. The final phase of engagement is taking place in March 2026 prior to a planning application being submitted and any statutory planning consultation.

In advance of formal consultation we welcome views about the future look of Royal Victoria Place rvp@tunbridgewells.gov.uk.

Taking the proposals for Market Square forward as a separate phase will enable the wider RVP regeneration to progress while additional work is undertaken to ensure the right residential mix and supporting infrastructure can be delivered for Market Square. The ambition to redevelop this area and bring new homes to the town centre remains an important part of the Council’s broader vision.

The residential development on Market Square could be delivered by a private developer, so it is too early to say what it will look like. The Local Plan for the borough sets out what housing should be developed so with that in mind we expect it will be a mix of accommodation of different sizes.

We’ll keep you informed as plans progress.

Discussions have commenced with the existing business and organisations around Market Square regarding the potential for relocation. The future of the Camden Centre is being discussed.

We will be consulting throughout the spring and summer and anticipate reaching a resolution in the next six months.