New retail park for Tunbridge Wells
THE DEVELOPMENT of a £45m retail park featuring Marks and Spencer, which will transform a run-down site in Tunbridge Wells and create 335 new jobs, has been given the go-ahead.
Plans to redevelop the "deteriorating" site on Dowding Way with the new Royal Spa Retail Park were approved this week.
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BRIGHT FUTURE: The retail park in Dowding Way, Tunbridge Wells which could be redeveloped to include M&S
The scheme, which will house a new concept Marks and Spencer homeware and food store, could be open by Easter 2010 and work should begin in February.
While members of the eastern and western area planning committees voted in favour of the proposal, concerns were raised over increased traffic congestion in the Longfield Road area and on the A21.
Cllr John Cunningham said: "I am very aware of transport issues on the North Farm Industrial Estate - it's an absolute nightmare and I don't think we should be increasing any form of traffic."
Cllr James Scholes added: "I'm very, very concerned about the traffic implications.
"Marks and Spencer will act as a magnet for people to visit other sites on the industrial estate."
Owners of the site LXB Property Partners will contribute £209,000 towards easing the impact on the surrounding roads and encouraging the use of public transport.
This includes £30,000 for carrying out highway capacity improvements on the North and South arms of the A21/Longfield Road roundabout and £115,000 towards cycleway works and pedestrian crossings.
Planning consultant Mary Davidson said: "We agree with councilors that this contribution has to be used properly.
"Kent Highways Services will have to work with us to make sure this is done."
The development comprises six retail units – M&S being the largest – designed as a single-storey, L-shaped building of more than 9,500sqm with 336 parking spaces.
Current site occupiers Halfords and Allied Carpets are expected to move into units and the owners said they were in discussion with other tenants, including Pets at Home and Staples.
Located adjacent to McDonald's will be three small cafe/restaurant facilities.
The new M&S Home store will be one of the first of its kind in England.
It will combine the shop's furniture and home furnishing range with a 930sqm food hall.
Cllr Roy Bullock objected to the proposals to provide a food hall as part of the retail development.
He said it would impact trading areas in Tunbridge Wells and Southborough town centres and neighbourhood centres in Silverdale Road, High Brooms Road and Sherwood.
He added: "There is no quantitative or qualitative need for this development outside the town centre. The closure of Woolworths has shown us the fragility of our high street."
M&S head of property Sacha Berendji said: "We do not see the food as the main draw in its own right. The food hall will be a top-up shop for people coming to visit the Home store or other stores in the industrial estate."
30 Comments
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by Ray Simpson, Tonbridge
Monday, February 01 2010, 5:17PM
“The traffic situation at North Farm may be bad but I still use the Tip and Wickes and B&Q and the new Toys R Us... Oh yes and the BMW motorcycle shop and the Electrical wholesales plus Screwfix... Whats the hassle in adding another store...”
by ray, tonbridge
Wednesday, January 27 2010, 1:30PM
“I often travel to Bluewater retail park to visit M&S. Iwould wellcome M&S to North Farm as it is nearer to me. Tunbridge Wells is the pits to get to and the pits to park. Good on you M&S.”
by Cliff Evans, Tunbridge Wells
Thursday, January 21 2010, 8:32PM
“I am all for future development whether it is out of town or within the centre. This is exactly what the economy needs at present, with the creation of long term jobs for the people who will work within in the stores but also for all the contractors involved within the build of the premises. This is exactly how the economy grows (which we need!). I am in agreement about the congestion within the industrial area which leads up the A21 roundabout. I do believe though that this has for a long time been getting worse and I am sorry to say that in this case I am all for the 'land grab' rule for the few houses that live along the stretch of A21 single track road from the roundabout to the dual carriage way section and a build of an expensive but in great need flyover to attach the retail park to a new dual carriageway. This will then allow for greater expansion of longfield site which inturn will be able to cope with future growth. Don't stop development but look for solutions for future growth!”
by Gabriella Coscia, Tunbridge Wells
Friday, December 25 2009, 5:40PM
“Doom and Gloom.What rubbish, An additional M and S on the outskirts will not affect the viability of the M and S or any other shop in Tunbridge Wells town centre. The current M and S over trades and is very busy. It also doesn't sell furniture and there isn't the space to accommodate furniture in the current town centre store. As for store closures I think some of the people on this site with their comments live in another world. Compared to the rest of Kent and a lot of the country Retail in Tunbridge Wells is very healthy, yes there are closures like QS but there have also been new openings and relocations, I can think of Pandora Jewellary, Trade Secret, Mankind, Superdry, Top Shop and Top Man, amongst others. I don't think Tunbridge Wells town centre is dying at all quite the opposite”
by nigel cooper, tunbridge wells
Friday, December 11 2009, 9:01AM
“the traffic through north farm has nothing to do with which store is going there, its a short cut to the a21,anyway I thought we wanted people to vist this fine town of ours”