Tunbridge Wells Borough Council sets out planning vision for The Pantiles and the Commons

Residents and businesses in Royal Tunbridge Wells will see the town’s planning future shaped by a new policy framework that puts The Pantiles and the Commons front and centre — not just as pretty backdrops, but as the defining features of what the town actually is. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has set out its position in a formal statement: the area is the borough’s primary retail and leisure destination, and any future development must deliver better public spaces, stronger connections across the town, and a mix of commercial, cultural, employment and residential uses.

The council recently adopted a new Local Plan, with Policy STR/RTW2 Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre setting the strategic direction for The Pantiles. Work on a Local Plan Review has already begun. That review will include a Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Centre Plan — a document that’s expected to spell out far more specific ambitions for The Pantiles, developed alongside public engagement on the town’s long-term future.

The Pantiles is a significant heritage asset, the council says. So is Calverley Grounds — a designated historic park and garden — along with the town’s large conservation area and its many listed buildings. These features, taken together, give Royal Tunbridge Wells a distinct identity and draw shoppers and visitors from across the region.

The Commons are a different matter entirely. Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons are registered common land under their own Acts of Parliament, with rights of public access that predate the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Numerous recorded public rights of way cross the land as well. The council has pointed residents and potential buyers to its website for information on the legal, planning and policy constraints that apply to both areas.

The council’s statement frames both The Pantiles and the Commons as assets whose future should serve the town as a whole.

The Town Centre Plan comes next — once prepared through public engagement, it will set the detailed vision and strategy for The Pantiles and the wider town centre’s long-term prosperity.