Hampshire’s Hendy Group gets green light for John Lewis Tunbridge Wells site plans

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Property & Construction

By Tom Kilkelly

15 April 2023

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Hampshire-based family-run motor dealership Hendy has been given the go-ahead for its plans to redevelop the vacant John Lewis Partnership site near Tunbridge Wells.

The redevelopment involves Hendy relocating its current sales, parts, and servicing departments from its branch in Mount Ephraim to the 1 hectare former John Lewis site in Kingstanding Business Park.

This move will help Hendy retain its 150-strong workforce in the borough whilst simultaneously opening doors for the company’s expansion of the team.

Chief executive at Hendy Paul Hendy said: “We can now progress our plans to bring this major empty retail site, which is close to other motor retailers and the A21, back into use. It will ensure the area remains a destination for eager car buyers.

“Modern manufacturers – and our customers – rightly expect ever higher standards. Unfortunately, the obvious physical constraints of our current site on Mount Ephraim mean we can’t make the improvements we need to put in place. Our only option is to relocate, and the vacant John Lewis site now provides us with the ideal solution.”

Plans for the multi-million pound investment were approved by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. The transformation of the former John Lewis Site will include a modern showroom and workshop for four-brand car and van franchises. The relocation involves the closure of the company’s Mount Ephraim branch which is divided by a road running through the middle – the site will potentially be redeveloped into housing.

Paul Hendy added: “It was great that members recognised our commitment to retaining jobs in the borough and provide sufficient space to expand our operations to accommodate our car and van franchises. Redeveloping the existing site for housing is far more in keeping with the current character of Mount Ephraim, but that will be a subject of a future application.

‘’As well as removing cars from the centre of Tunbridge Wells, when fully operational our Kingstanding Way site will generate less traffic than when John Lewis was open.”

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.