New pictures of a mega development at the site of a former town centre cinema have been released.

Plans were finally submitted last week for the £72 million redevelopment of the derelict ABC cinema in Tunbridge Wells.

If approved, a revamp of the Mount Pleasant Road plot would see 166 new homes built as part of an eight-storey retirement village.

Alongside the homes, a café, outdoor space, hydrotherapy pool, spa and gym would also be added.

The plans come from Retirement Villages Group (RVG) which is owned by AXA IM Alts and already has planning consent for a "later-living community" that was greater in height than the current proposal.

In April, a public consultation was held to find out people's views on the plans, which would see a new public space with a central courtyard for residents and the wider community to enjoy.

Additionally, the transformation of the former cinema site, which has been empty for 23 years, would be a net zero carbon project – so it would be net zero carbon when it is built and then when people move in.

The plans would also rejuvenate the ground floor fronting Mount Pleasant Road and Church Road, with nine retail units available for independent businesses.

RVG’s proposed scheme has responded to the consultation feedback through design changes and enhancements to the façade at the Church Road and Mount Pleasant Road junction – and includes a reduction in height and the inclusion of additional windows.

Originally, developers asked Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for a "screening opinion" on whether it was necessary to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment with the planning application, and the council quickly ruled that it would not.

Environmental Impact Assessments are costly and take a long time to prepare and not needing one gave the green light for developers to submit their plans.

Documents reveal there are also plans for basement parking to hold 60 cars.

The last proposal, prepared by Elysian Residences, gained planning permission for 99 flats, but the firm pulled out before building them.

The old ABC cinema closed in 1999 and was demolished in 2014.

You can view the plans by clicking here.

Use the reference 22/02304/FULL.