Royal Victoria Place redevelopment FAQs

The Council is the freeholder of the site and struck a deal to acquire the lease of the shopping centre. Owning the lease gives the Council greater control over the future of Royal Victoria Place, and the ability to influence the economic development of the town centre and wider borough which support the objectives set out in the Council’s overarching objectives (past and present).

In the longer 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.

A timetable is set out in the feasibility study report. If the necessary statutory permissions are obtained development could start on site in early 2027 with completion in 2029.

Businesses in Ely Court at present are defined as ‘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 will discuss future opportunities in the shopping centre with them but they may need to relocate to another town centre location.

The key areas being considered include Ely Court. When the Council acquired RVP we were aware that several of the buildings, purchased by a previous owner for a redevelopment that fell through, at the corner of Calverley Road and Camden Road, adjoining Ely Court, were uninhabitable and in need of major refurbishment or redevelopment. In addition in preparation for the redevelopment that did not happen the former food court had been cleared and the mall refurbishment which did take place did not extend into the Palm Court area. Even if the Council decides to ‘do-nothing’ there are significant costs in the maintenance/replacement works that will need to be addressed in Ely Court and Palm Court. These works will provide little to no revitalisation benefits to the town or the centre. The ‘do-nothing’ option is explained in the feasibility study report.

A leisure led, mixed-use development with a high-profile boutique cinema, leisure and dining offer together with improvements to the retail environment and offer in Palm Court and a residential development on Market Square might cost around £42M to £68M (prices as at June 2025) depending on how the scheme delivery is managed. The Council will make more detailed considerations on the delivery of the scheme as it is designed during the next stages.

At this early stage of consideration 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 funding strategy is published in the financial summary in exempt appendices of the report viewable by Councillors.

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 retailers including Sostrene Grene and Primark (opening winter 2025).  We will continue to review options including the potential to sell RVP. At this stage in ownership and stabilising the centre, the Council is possibly best placed to deliver the transformative investment that the shopping centre and the town needs.

We undertook very successful public engagement during May 2025 to best understand what residents and visitors would like to see in a future Royal Victoria Place before Full Council was asked to take a view on the feasibility study report. Read the results of the public engagement

We will keep people informed about progress in the coming months. We will be undertaking further engagement with residents and businesses when we have an initial design and offer. It is expected that further public engagement will commence early in 2026.

This further engagement will take place before a planning application is submitted and the statutory planning consultation that takes place.

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