Retirement Village proposed for Tunbridge Wells

Published by

Stephen Emerson

The development company responsible for the site of the former ABC Cinema in Tunbridge Wells has released the first artists impressions of their proposal.

Retirement Villages Group, a division of AXA, have revealed their plans to build scores of apartments on Mount Pleasant Road. The initial plans allow for between 150-180 home retirement village, a café, restaurant and wellness centre.

The site has been derelict for more than two decades.

The properties will be a mix of one and two bedroom apartments, designed to maximise sunlight throughout the 1.5 acre development with floor to ceiling windows. While the early indications are encouraging one controversial aspect of the development could be its height.

The plans make provision for an eight-storey building, which will make significant changes to the sky line of Tunbridge Wells.

A spokesperson for property developer, Retirement Villages Group, said: "Our focus will be on creating buildings that reflect the local culture, incorporating open spaces and aesthetic designs to make sure the finished construction blends seamlessly with Tunbridge Wells’ rich heritage.

"Sustainability also sits at the centre of this scheme, which will hold market-leading credentials such as the ‘whole life net zero’ commitment – one of the most rigorous standards for assessing a building’s environmental impact. Through this commitment, we’re promising not just to account for the carbon generated by the building’s operations, but also to deal with what’s produced in the construction process.

"It’s all about pursuing our goal of increasing the biodiversity in our retirement villages by 20 percent – a target that will help keep our people and planet thriving for longer."

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.