Tonbridge Regeneration: Strong Public Support for New Plans

Tonbridge’s ambitious development plan for the area east of the High Street has received a strong public mandate, with a recent survey revealing overwhelming support for the proposals. More than 1,400 people participated in the survey, which ran from July 14 to August 31, 2025, to gather views on the regeneration efforts led by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

The council’s cabinet is set to receive the full survey results and a detailed outline of the next steps on October 14.

Key Findings: A Clear Mandate for Change

The feedback shows a clear appetite for the proposed changes, with an impressive 79 per cent of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that the overall regeneration plans would benefit Tonbridge.

Specific preferences for key development sites were also distinctly voiced:

Sovereign Way East Car Park: A massive majority of 91 per cent favoured building a new GP surgery here to increase capacity, rejecting the alternative of residential development.
Vale Road Car Park: Residential development was the preferred option for this site over an 80-bed hotel.
Angel West Car Park: There was powerful support to retain this site as parking, with 84 per cent opposing a residential/mixed-use development.
Old Angel Centre Site: Once the new Angel Centre is complete, mixed-use development was the most popular option for the old site, though significant support was also noted for parking and entertainment uses.

Focus on Green Space and Infrastructure

Enthusiasm extended strongly to plans for enhancing the town’s green spaces. A remarkable 90 per cent of those surveyed were in favour of creating a riverside park along the south bank of the river tributary, supporting more green space and leisure opportunities in the town centre.

The development will be phased over several years, with priority given to a replacement Angel Leisure Centre, currently slated for completion in 2028. The regeneration is also taking place alongside the planned refurbishment and extension of Sainsbury’s, aiming to support wider investment across the town centre.

Illustration of a proposed riverside park in Tonbridge, featuring walking paths, greenery, and people engaging in various activities.

Map of Tonbridge showing key development areas and car parks, including Sovereign Way and Vale Road.

(Images courtesy of TMBC)

Council Responds and Next Steps

Councillor Adem Mehmet, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Regeneration, expressed his satisfaction with the public engagement.

“We are delighted with the level of community engagement and the clear majority support for the plans to help regenerate the area east of Tonbridge High Street,” Councillor Mehmet said. “The feedback from residents and local groups… will help us deliver investment, jobs and increased footfall in Tonbridge, supporting businesses and providing new services for residents.”

In direct response to the survey, amendments will now be made to the masterplan, specifically to clarify parking arrangements and confirm the retention of Angel West car park. The council assures residents that the majority of parking across the development area will be retained, with future surveys planned to monitor usage and explore opportunities to increase provision where possible.

All development activities will be subject to council approval and annual review by the Tonbridge Town Centre Programme Board. You can find the latest project updates on the Tonbridge and Malling Borough website.

What Do You Think, Tonbridge?

The council has a clear message from the public, but what are your thoughts on these results? Are you excited about the new GP surgery and riverside park? Do you agree with the choice to keep Angel West car park for parking? Let us know in the comments below!