Tonbridge Angel Centre Plans: New Leisure Hub Insights

Tonbridge’s plans to replace the ageing Angel Centre have moved forward following a large public survey, which has provided clear direction on the mix of facilities residents most want to see in the new building.

Over 1,000 people took part in the public consultation, confirming strong local support for an expanded range of leisure facilities, including several new features for the town.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council is currently in the initial design phase for the new £19 million centre, which is planned for the Sovereign Way Mid car park site. The survey was intended to gauge opinion on a potential list of facilities, which could include a sports hall, a dedicated spin studio, an expanded gym, and multi-purpose rooms.

Key Priorities Emerge

The survey results show a clear appetite for new, modern additions, as well as retaining essential core facilities:

Core Facilities: Maintaining key traditional offerings remains a priority, with around 95% of respondents indicating a strong desire for a sports hall. Similarly, approximately 8 out of 10 current users said an improved, larger gym was important or very important.
New Family and Health Focus: Two proposed new features, which are not available at the current Angel Centre, generated high levels of support:
- Soft Play: Around 86% of people were in favour of a new soft play area for young children.
- Wellness Zone: Nearly 80% saw the importance of providing a wellness zone, which would feature specialised exercise equipment for people with long-term health conditions or those undergoing rehabilitation.
A Place to Meet: Non-users of the current centre highlighted the importance of a social space, with a café being the most popular choice (61%) for attracting new visitors.

Eco-Design and Identity

The proposals also include a strong focus on sustainability—something nine-out-of-ten respondents felt was important. The new building will use energy-efficient design features to minimise carbon emissions.

Crucially for many residents, there was overwhelming support to keep the facility’s well-known identity, with 87% of respondents wishing to retain the ‘Angel Centre‘ name.

Next Steps and Design Questions

The council also received over 300 additional suggestions from residents, ranging from requests for a swimming pool and squash courts to a flea market and library, all of which will now be considered as part of the detailed design process.

Councillor Adem Mehmet, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Tonbridge Regeneration, expressed his gratitude for the high volume of feedback.

“We are very grateful for the feedback from residents on these exciting plans to deliver a new purpose-built leisure centre for our town,” he said. “It’s important that we hear the views of both existing users and potential future customers, so we can deliver the right mix of facilities.”

The next phase of the project involves developing the final detailed designs and submitting a planning application later this year. If approved, the new centre—to be operated by leisure partner tmactive—is currently expected to be completed in 2028.

The drawn-up plans for the next stage will be particularly interesting for Tonbridge residents. With the centre relocating to the Sovereign Way Mid car park site, it is not yet clear how the new Angel Centre will physically sit on the space—including the crucial details of main entrances and exits. Will the design incorporate parking underneath the facility, or will it rely entirely on the surrounding car parks? We are also keen to see what specific architectural and interior design aspects are being considered to ensure this significant investment will stand the test of time and remain a functional, appealing community hub for the next 40 years.