Tonbridge: Plans for 300 new homes and hotel

Four 'high level' design ideas have been put together by specialist consultants Mace Group

Plans to redevelop Tonbridge town centre with more than 300 new homes, a hotel and a medical centre are to be considered.

The council-owned land is currently home to car parks and The Angel leisure centre, which Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has already agreed in principle to replace.

A total of £2m has so far been set aside to fund the project.

The council said it would test the "viability" of different proposals.

A report, which details four different housing-led plans, will be outlined in a council meeting next Tuesday.

All four options include building more than 300 homes, but councillors will discuss what proportion should be classed as affordable.

Options put forward for the area east of the town's high street also include the creation of a town square and more shops, as well as improved walking and cycling routes.

If current car parks are developed, the proposals will also include building a multi-storey car park or providing parking beneath the new scheme.

Councillors have agreed in principle to replace the leisure centre with a carbon neutral facility

The council said the project would help it meet its target of delivering 16,000 new properties by 2039.

It added that "funding routes", which could include partnering with the private sector, would be explored in the next phase of the project.

Council leader Matt Boughton said: "We want to invest in Tonbridge and make it an even better place to live, work and enjoy leisure time.

"We are at the very early stages of exploring ways to deliver transformative improvements to the town centre with many exciting ideas on the table."

He added that the council would test the ability of the different plans to help it meet its carbon neutral "objectives", and that the authority would seek the views of local residents and businesses.

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