Glazed atrium roof replacement at Palm Court Royal Victoria Place, Royal Tunbridge Wells

What was proposed

The application proposed replacing Palm Court’s glazed atrium roof with a lower curved roof and making associated changes to rooftop extraction equipment.

“Palm Court is a focal point of RVP, providing retail units around a central open atrium space, with a large glazed canopy covering the atrium. It also contains a largely empty and redundant lower level, which has previously operated as a food court and can be accessed separately from Market Square to the east.”

“Planning permission is sought for the replacement of the atrium roof above Palm Court. The glazed roof structure sits within a sunken well within RVP, rather than projecting above the height of the main roof area. The current roof is a large steel framed glazed lantern with a ridged roof line.”

Officer report

The site

Palm Court is a focal area within the shopping centre, with retail units around an atrium and a separately accessible lower level.

“This application relates to part of the Royal Victoria Place (RVP) shopping centre, specifically the area known as Palm Court. RVP was completed in the early 1990s and is predominantly arranged over two levels comprising of 147 trading units across the lower and upper mall.”

Officer report

Planning history

Earlier permissions covered the shopping centre, landscaping, entrance changes and a larger centre reconfiguration that was granted but not implemented.

“Removal of main entrance canopy, blue fascia boxes, lighting, entrance signage, decorative railing and upstands. New fabric canopy, lighting, render to walls and down pipes…”

“Reconfiguration and extension of Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre to provide new Class A1 (retail), A2 (financial and professional services), A3 (restaurants and cafes, A5 (hot food takeaway) and D2 (leisure) uses and associated mall areas including the demolition of Calverley House, Camden House and 1a and 1b Camden Road and construction of new buildings; construction of a roof top extension to provide new Class D2 uses; construction of a new mall and entrance onto…”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Conservation officers recommended approval, while Environmental Protection requested controls to keep new plant noise below measured background levels.

“TWBC Conservation (27/05/2026) 5.01 Recommend approval – Comments incorporated into appraisal.”

“Environmental Protection (03/06/2026) 5.02 Noise: An acoustic assessment in accordance with BS4142 has been provided which determined background levels at the nearest noise sensitive receptor to be 46dB in the daytime and 37dB at night.”

Officer report

Public comments

One objection questioned the need, preferred the existing roof design and said regeneration should focus on the food court.

“Three site notices were displayed around the site on Calverley Road, Camden Road and Victoria Road on 21/05/2026. The application was also advertised in a local paper, the expiry date for both consultation periods being 12/06/2026.”

“One comment was received in objection, with the points summarised as follows: • Questioning need for development. • Existing roof design is preferable to the new roof design. • Focus should be on regenerating the food court.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two registered speakers addressed the committee: a local resident objected and a supporter represented the applicant’s side.

The committee’s decision

The committee unanimously approved the application subject to the agenda plans and conditions, excluding the three-year time condition.

“RESOLVED – That application PLA328/26 be granted subject to the plans and conditions as set out in the agenda report, with the exclusion of the 3 year time condition.”

“Standard 3-year time condition 2. Development to be in accordance with approved plans 3. Acoustic assessment to be submitted to the LPA and details approved…”

Minutes