The ABC cinema site in Tunbridge Wells has been sold following the collapse of a deal earlier this year.

The Carlyle Group, which was sold the site in 2001, spent months working on plans involving a new hotel-led leisure and retail scheme but were left disappointed after the hotel chain pulled out.

Now, Altitude UK, a privately owned real estate company, has purchased the land which sits 100m from Tunbridge Wells railway station.

A spokesman for the firm said bosses hope to bring forward a major mixed use development that will re-connect the town centre.

Planning permission was granted back in 2009 for a 250,000 sq.ft mixed use development consisting of retail, restaurants, offices, hotel and parking.

This consent was never implemented and has since lapsed.

There has been significant public and council interest in seeing the site in the heart of Tunbridge Wells developed.

In December 2014 controversial hoardings costing more than £20,000 were put up around the plot, which has been unused since 2000.

The plans were labelled a waste of money but the hoarding were covered in images of iconic buildings and areas in Tunbridge Wells.

It has remained derelict since the closure of the ABC Cinema in 2001 and the former buildings were demolished in 2014.

Nigel Robson, director of Altitude Real Estate, said: "Tunbridge Wells is an attractive town with an affluent catchment area and first class connectivity to central London.

"We believe there is significant untapped potential in the area for high quality retail, restaurants and residential that will help to boost the town’s day and night-time economies.

"This acquisition supports the strategy of acquiring prime development sites that have excellent connectivity and are located in areas with strong socio-demographics.

"We look forward to working with the Council and local residents to deliver an exemplar development that will put a heart back into Tunbridge Wells."