Royal Victoria Place gains planning consent for major leisure and retail extension
Planning consent has been granted for an extension to the 300,000 square foot Royal Victoria Place shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells.
The £70 million extension will see over 173,000 square feet of new retail, food and beverage, and leisure space added to centre, including a cinema.
Chris Taylor, head of private markets at Hermes Investment Management, said: “Achieving this planning consent represents both Hermes Investment Management and the local authority’s strong commitment to enhancing the status of the town’s retail and leisure offer. Already the region’s dominant shopping destination, RVP will now further capitalise on the potential that its affluent catchment offers, and we are delighted with the result.”
The increase in retail and leisure floorspace at the centre will represent a significant investment from owner Hermes Investment Management as it looks to realise the potential of the local market.
Designed by Haskoll Architects, the extension will aim to respect the heritage of Tunbridge Wells whilst introducing modern, contemporary units.
Hugo Fenwick, group trading director at Fenwick, the main anchor in the scheme, said: “We are delighted Hermes Investment Management is developing an enhanced leisure component to the scheme, which will ensure RVP becomes the foremost destination within a 30-minute drive-time of Tunbridge Wells. Fenwick is very supportive of the aspirational tenant mix and the increased customer dwell time as a direct results of this outstanding redevelopment.”
