Tunbridge Wells' new Sainsbury's Local moves a step closer to opening
The new Sainsbury's Local for Tunbridge Wells is one step closer to opening, as the supermarket giant has just applied for a premises licence. As KentLive reported in April, the branch will be in the heart of a tight-knit community.
Camden Road is one of the main roads leading into the town centre, and it's known for its independent vibe, with restaurants and shops. It's populated by roadside restaurants, cafes, shops and businesses with flats above most of them, and is a distinctive quarter of the town, with many residential roads joining it.
Sainsbury's secured planning permission for its new store, and with flats built above on the first, second and third floor, and has now applied to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for a premises licence.
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The application, available to view on the council's licensing partnership portal, is for opening hours of 7am to 11pm every night. It has asked Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for the licence to start on November 2.
The building had been the large shop of Wildside Cycles. Deliveries to the Sainsbury's Local will be from Camden Road in front of the building, where there are parking restrictions but not loading restrictions, said the original planning application. Permission was given for the building's demolition. Wildside Cycles is not closing, but will be moving to a new site locally.
The branch will have an ATM cash machine. There were 17 conditions attached to the planning approval, however, which included deliveries are not allowed between 7.30am to 10am, and 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday, nor between noon to 2pm on Saturdays.
'Effective use of land'
There had been concerns from residents when they first heard about the plans, including about loss of privacy and impact on local traders. The council's report said the proposed slatted railings would ease this overlooking of people living in Dale Street.
The council also said, in relation to its core policy of effective use of land, this: "Given the above, the development of the site would be acceptable in principle in terms of making effective/optimum use of the brownfield/PDL (previously developed land) site that could contribute toward meeting the need for housing in the borough while retaining the existing retail element (albeit through demolition/replacement of the building)."
Sainsbury's told KentLive it would not open until next year. It will be advertising for jobs closer to the time.