New Angel Centre

Stay updated about the New Angel Centre

We’re working on plans to replace the Angel Centre with a new building that better meets the needs of users. This is a significant project that aims to deliver a modern, environmentally friendly, and financially sustainable leisure facility in the heart of Tonbridge.

Feedback Survey

This survey will close at noon on 24 September 2025

What is coming?

At this early stage, we’re focusing on setting a clear vision and involving the community. While detailed designs are still being developed, the ambition is to create a building that can provide a high-quality leisure facility that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Although no firm decisions have been made, the proposed facility will explore new and improved services including flexible studio and meeting spaces, activities to support active ageing, children’s soft play, a larger gym and a spin studio as well as improved changing facilities and an on-site café. These ideas are being developed carefully to ensure they appeal to existing and new users while also being financially viable.

We know how important the Angel Centre is to our community, and we’re committed to sharing more information as the project progresses, including emerging proposals and designs, once they are ready.

Share your views

We’d like to hear from you at this early stage. Your feedback will help us understand what matters most to residents, users and local groups as we move forward with plans. Take a few minutes to complete our short survey.

By checking in regularly, you’ll be among the first to see what’s planned and how the new centre could benefit the local community.

Feedback Survey

This survey will close at noon on 24 September 2025

Where will the new centre be built?

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has selected the Sovereign Way Mid Car Park, close to the existing centre, as the location for the new building. There is plenty of parking nearby and the location is also easy to access from the town centre on foot or by public transport. Click to view map

What facilities will the new centre offer?

Detailed designs for the replacement centre are currently being developed. At this stage, we’re aiming to provide significant improvements on what is available at the current centre. These include flexible studio and meeting spaces, activities to support active ageing, children’s soft play, a larger gym and a spin studio as well as improved changing facilities and an on-site café.

The new centre will be highly energy efficient, using solar panels and air source heat pumps to provide electricity.

How will the final mix of facilities on offer be decided?

We are working with leisure industry experts to identify the best possible mix of facilities that can be accommodated in the new building. We’re also asking current users and the wider community for feedback on the outline proposals. Click here to access the survey

An important consideration in making final decisions is the ability for facilities to meet current and future demand so they can provide sufficient income to ensure the centre is economically viable.

What will it cost and how will it be paid for?

The cost of the new centre is likely to be in the region of £19 million. It will be funded by a combination of council reserves, borrowing and a contribution from the Tonbridge and Malling leisure trust (tmactive).

Why is a new leisure centre needed?

The current centre is more than 40 years old and much of the fabric and infrastructure has reached the end of its economic life. It’s also very energy inefficient and even with millions of pounds of investment may not be able to meet new carbon emission targets for public buildings.

The internal design is also problematic with redundant spaces, poor changing facilities and a layout that makes some areas hard for customers to access.

When will the new centre open?

We hope to have the new centre open in 2028. The existing Angel Centre will remain open until then.

Who will operate the new centre?

The new centre will be run by tmactive, the council’s leisure trust partner which operates the existing Angel Centre and other leisure facilities in the borough. The current joint membership with Tonbridge Pool will be retained.

What will happen to the existing Angel Centre?

The current Angel Centre will be unaffected and will remain open until the new facility is fully operational. Our current plans are for the existing centre to be demolished once the new one is completed. The site could then be redeveloped for other purposes as part of a wider regeneration of the surrounding area. See more on the Tonbridge Town Centre website