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Royal Victoria Place shopping centre

The Council has owned the freehold of the centre since it was built. In October 2023 the Council acquired the lease and since then has owned and operated Royal Victoria Place (RVP) shopping centre.

This page describes how the Council is managing the centre, and securing its future so that it continues to benefit the town and borough.

What is Royal Victoria Place?

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre, Royal Victoria Place is a multi-level, covered shopping centre with an attached car park. You can find more information about the centre’s wide range of shops, attractions, facilities, upcoming events, and leasing opportunities on the RVP website.

How does the Council manage Royal Victoria Place?

The Council manages the centre in consultation with expert advisors.

Our appointed property managers, Knight Frank, and asset managers, RivingtonHark, are overseen by the Council’s Investment Property Manager, and report regularly to Councillors through the Council’s cross party Investment Advisory Panel.

The annual business plan sets out the current business and operational goals for the centre. Read a summary of the 2025/26 Business Plan.

To date we have:

  • Reduced empty units by 8%
  • Increased footfall by 9% over 2024
  • Reduced the service charge paid by tenants by 13.2%
  • Installed new Fenwick signage
  • Introduced PoundStretcher/Sostrene Grene/Mr Simms/Primark to the centre
  • Increased lettings in Ely Court including short term arrangements for new businesses
  • Run marketing campaigns with a focus on innovative and community temporary uses and events – Pixel/The Fearless Fox/Subbuteo
  • Improved the tenant offering outside the shopping centre letting the former Gateway building Nando’s.

What are the Council’s long-term plans for the centre?

The Council acquired RVP with the goal of ensuring its long term success. Investing in its future is a key part of our Strategic Plan. We want to improve the visitor experience, support and renew the parts of the centre that are doing best, and adapt and reimagine the parts that have struggled most.

RVP car park

The Council is committing £9m to undertake a major refurbishment of the RVP car park that will improve the lighting, flooring and layout providing larger parking spaces for modern vehicles. Work to refurbish and modernise the RVP car park is now underway.

Car park solar

Over £1m is being invested in installing solar panels on the roof of the RVP car park. This investment will enable electricity to be generated to offset the costs of running RVP and contribute to reducing its carbon footprint and towards the centre becoming carbon net zero.

RVP redevelopment

Options for redeveloping RVP focus on three potential development zones (Palm Court, Ely Court and Market Square) at the eastern end of the centre to create new shopping and leisure facilities, and new homes in the town centre.

A development feasibility study has been undertaken considering options for future development to enhance the centre. This will be considered by Full Council on 16 July 2025 when Councillors will decide if they wish to proceed to the next step of redeveloping the centre – designing the recommended scheme. The aim of redevelopment is to enhance the centre, support the centre as a focus for the community, and strengthen the Council’s investment in the town centre. As plans develop, we will continue to keep you informed.

Further information can be found on the RVP Redevelopment page.

Get in touch

Your comments are always welcome, write to the Council’s Property Investment team at RVP@TunbridgeWells.gov.uk.

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