Plan for new store and café at former chapel in tight-knit Kent village

The Speldhurst Chapel and Mission Hall site which is opposite the current village shop and post office, to where it could move
-Credit: (Image: Google Street View)


A tight-knit village in Kent - recently named one of the best places to live in the county - could have a new store and café if a plan by residents and the parish council goes ahead to convert a former chapel and hall. Proposals have been submitted to change the use of the site in Speldhurst to a village shop, which would include a post office, and other community uses.

The beautiful village of Speldhurst is just more than three miles from Tunbridge Wells. And the plan comes from Speldhurst Community Shop Ltd, a community benefit society, which is already running the village stores and post office thanks to a band of around 40 volunteers and two staff.

The current Speldhurst Community Shop and Post Office runs from a rented premises opposite the chapel at the corner of Northfields and Barden Road. The society said it was much-used and important too for the wider community.

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The lease expired two months ago and, although it has been extended temporarily, it desperately needs a new home. Speldhurst Parish Council, on its chapel project page, in April, stated the parish council had made an offer of £300,000 for the chapel "to the owners which had been accepted".

A view of how the new village stores and post office would look at the converted chapel in Kent (Speldhurst) Tunbridge Wells
A view of how the new village stores and post office in Speldhurst near Tunbridge Wells would look at the converted chapel and mission hall -Credit:Speldhurst Community Shop Ltd

In the chapel and through an extension, the society wants to have an area for coffees, teas and light snacks in a social space, where people can also consume items they bought in the shop. Space would also be available for hire for small meetings and clubs, such as social groups, mums and babies, and the knitting club.

It would have a small kitchen, storage and a toilet, and French doors from the community space would open on to a front landscaped area. The current kitchen and storage room to the back of the chapel would become a stock room and manager's office for the shop.

The shop will be accessed through the chapel's current entrance door, with the low wall replaced with wide, shallow steps onto a flat area with seating. The area would have planting to attract wildlife and insects.

Speldhurst Community Shop and Post Office which is opposite the proposed chapel site
Speldhurst Community Shop and Post Office which is opposite the proposed chapel site to where it could move -Credit:Google Street View

Changes would be made to a bank to make car parking easier, while the intended opening hours would generally be 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 1pm on Saturday, and 9am to 11am on Sunday and bank holidays.

Extended hours would be intended for use of the community space, for example, for evening meetings.

'A one-off opportunity'

Permission to build an extension is also being sought, which would create an "enhanced space" for the retail and community use of the building. Explaining the interesting background to choosing the chapel site for its venture, the society said this: "In 2022, it became apparent that the owner of Speldhurst Chapel would be willing to sell the building and site.

"Given the significance of the Chapel as a community asset and the one-off opportunity to secure a permanent premises for the community shop and post office, as well as maintain the chapel as a space for community activities, Speldhurst Parish Council are considering purchasing the Chapel and then leasing it to Speldhurst Community Shop Limited at a peppercorn rent.

A view of how the village stores and post office would look at the converted chapel in Kent (Speldhurst) Tunbridge Wells
A view of how the village stores and post office would look at the converted chapel in Speldhurst in Tunbridge Wells -Credit:Speldhurst Community Shop Ltd

"The hardstanding, potential parking area, on the chapel site could also be of benefit along Barden Road. Through discussions with the landowner of the chapel building, an in-principle agreement has been established regarding its purchase by Speldhurst Parish Council, who are in the process of arranging the necessary funding.

"Given their involvement, we expect the parish council would be supportive of this planning application. Indicative support from the village is such that there is a high degree of confidence that the additional funds necessary to extend and refurbish the Chapel for its new use will be available. All being well, the purchase of the Chapel could be completed by quarter four, 2024."

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