The Story So Far
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has owned the freehold of the centre since it was built, but purchased the leasehold from British Land in October 2023.
This move reflects a desire to secure Royal Victoria Place’s future and contribution to the town centre, while also ensuring this important asset in the community continues to play a strong role in maintaining the attractiveness of the town for residents, employers and visitors.
Under the ownership of the Council, the aim is to make the shopping centre more responsive to local needs and potentially transform it into a “mixed destination” with a greater focus on town centre living, leisure and community use. Additionally, the Council is seeking to address issues such as vacant shops and the need for repairs to the car park.
Spring 2025 Engagement
In May, we invited local residents, tenants, civic and business groups, to share their thoughts about Royal Victoria Place – how often they visit, what they do there, and what changes could make it more enjoyable and useful in the future. Our goal was to better understand what new activities, shops, and spaces might help Royal Victoria Place become an even stronger focal point for the “top of town.”
How did we speak to people?
Digital Survey
More than 6,600 people visited our online survey and 2,860 shared their thoughts and ideas with us.
Drop-In Sessions
11 public drops-ins were held at key locations across the borough, making it easy for residents to get involved and share feedback.
‘Vox Pop’
A pop up ‘vox pop’ interviewer spoke with visitors and users of the shopping centre to capture quick, on-the-spot opinions.
Inclusive Workshops
We tailored workshops for young people at a local primary school and Trinity Youth Theatre, and ran four additional sessions with civic groups, ensuring a diverse mix of community interests and perspectives were heard.
What did they say?
- Survey respondents identified key gaps in the town centre offer, especially in fashion retail and cinema.
- Underused areas such as the Palm Court and Ely Court were highlighted as opportunities for improvement.
- There is strong demand for more family-friendly, affordable dining and community-focused leisure and entertainment.
- Evening is the least popular time to visit the top of town, reinforcing the need for additional evening activities and attractions.
- Engagement also showed clear demand for affordable housing and starter accommodation for first-time buyers.
- Vacant or underperforming spaces present potential for repurposing to help meet local housing needs.
Get In Touch and Share Your Views
We want to make engagement as easy as possible. If you find it difficult to share feedback online or in person, please contact us below. We can ensure that physical copies of the engagement materials and feedback form are provided to you.
