New Proposed Angel Centre

Stay updated about the New Angel Centre Proposals

Thank you to all those who provided feedback in the February 2026 survey!

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 facility in the heart of Tonbridge.

View the Designs

The new Angel Centre plays a key part in delivering the Tonbridge Town Centre Masterplan. This plan was created to enhance the town centre, aiming to create a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive urban environment along the River Medway.

Download the Masterplan

What is coming?

We’re pleased to share the design plans for the new Angel Centre, which set out how the facility could look and function. The designs have been shaped by feedback from the community earlier in the process and align with the Tonbridge Town Centre Masterplan.

View the designs

Residents, centre users, and local groups were invited to explore the plans and provided important feedback at a public exhibition and online survey (16 February – 22 February 2026). Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts.

Comments received through the survey are currently being reviewed. This engagement provided an important opportunity to share views on the proposals ahead of the submission of a planning application.

The new proposed design plans were shaped by feedback received by our public survey in Summer 2025, which asked residents and centre users what was valued most in a new, modern facility.

Over 1,085 Responses helped shape key priorities for the proposals, including the facility mix, accessibility, and sustainability.

Summer Survey 2025 Results

We know how important the Angel Centre is to our community, and we’re committed to sharing more information as the project progresses.

August 2025

First consultation with public

October 2025

Town Centre Masterplan adopted

February 2026

Designs shared with public

March 2026

Planning application submitted

November 2026

Proposed date for start of construction

Summer 2028

Proposed opening of the new Angel Centre

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 an enhanced gym, dedicated spin studio, sports hall, a new café, soft play area with party space, and an active wellbeing suite with unique power assisted exercise equipment.

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

How was the final mix of facilities decided?

We worked with leisure industry experts to identify the best possible mix of facilities that can be accommodated in the new building. We have also asked current users and the wider community for feedback on the outline proposals.

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

How will the centre be paid for?

The cost of the new centre 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 Swimming 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