If approved the David Lloyd Leisure club would offer indoor and outdoor pools, air dome tennis courts, a gym, spa garden, a child’s play area and lounge facilities
David Lloyd Leisure plans for Kent with indoor and outdoor pools, air dome tennis courts, gym, spa garden and business hub – (Image: Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson)
David Lloyd Leisure has submitted plans for a health, fitness and racquets club on a grand property and 21 acres near Tunbridge Wells, with a long list of facilities. The company said it had been “actively seeking a suitable location” within the Tunbridge Wells catchment area for around the past eight years.
The health club chain wants to build the club at a large property off the A21, just north of the Longfield Road junction, on the left. David Lloyd Leisure said in its application its study into the need for a health, wellness and racquets facility in the Tunbridge Wells area showed a “latent demand” of at least 7,834 members.
The new gym would also create between 80 and 100 full-time equivalent jobs, it said. An extension of the 18th century Colebrook House, which would have a larger internal area, is also part of the plans which include three outdoor tennis courts in an air dome; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; six canopied padel courts; an outdoor Battle Box exercise facility, gym and studios.
There would also be an internal spa and external spa garden; children’s activity areas; lounge facilities; a business hub and terrace, along with car parking.
David Lloyd Leisure plans for Kent with indoor and outdoor pools, air dome tennis courts, gym, spa garden and business hub(Image: Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson )
Colebrook House has sat empty for around six years, and is surrounded by parkland. The sales particulars for Colebrook House state it is under offer. The site is around 3.5km north east of Tunbridge Wells town centre, say planning papers. The A21 lies to the east, and the under construction Kingstanding Park industrial estate and office development is to the west.
The site is in Green Belt, and National Landscape, previously High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with Ancient Woodland along one boundary. Currently, access is via a private drive off a junction from the A21/Pembury Road and it is intended to keep and widen this access.
The pools would be the following specifications: 20m internal; 400m and 800mm deep learner pools; swim in/swim out pool; 25m outdoor pool; outdoor children’s pool.
The health and fitness specs are: 120 to 140 station gym; five studio spaces for Rhythm and Cyclone, Blaze, high impact, and mind, body and soul; children’s soft play and activity. And for spa; internal spa with pool, relax, sauna and steam; and external spa garden with pool, sauna and relax.
The location of the Colebrook House site, the A21 to the east, and the industrial estate would be to the left of this aerial image(Image: Google Street View)
There would be 305 parking spaces, with 32 EV charger bays, and 34 could be added in the future. Colebrook House would be linked to the extension by a glazed link. David Lloyd Leisure was founded in 1982 by former professional tennis player David Lloyd. The business has 615,000 members in the UK, say planning papers.
There not yet a date for the application to be decided.
Find out more about things to do in Kent with our free What’s On email HERE.