FOUR national retailers are interested in moving into sites in Cannon Lane, Tonbridge.
Applications have been put in by Go Outdoors, Home Bargains and Costa Coffee to move into the former B&Q site. And planning documents suggest that chains Aldi and Pets At Home are expecting to open in the old Homebase store.
The news comes shortly after a Marks and Spencer Foodhall and McDonalds have opened in the area.
The planning application propose that the vacant warehouse will be divided into four new independent retail units, with a new smaller extension to be added.
Go Outdoors, which sells camping, cycling and hiking equipment is hoping to move in to one of the larger units. Home Bargains, a discount store with over 400 locations in the UK has its sights set on one of the other larger units.
Costa Coffee is expected to move into the new smaller building which has yet to be constructed. It is not yet known who will take the remaining two units.
Construction workers were spotted on the site last week, possibly to examine the area in preparation for the conversion.
Speculation of German supermarket Aldi’s arrival into the town was reignited after their symbol, along with the pet store’s, was used in a document demonstrating the new signage outside the former Homebase store.
Steve Humphrey, Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, said: “Tonbridge’s reputation as an excellent place to do business is building steadily; not only do we have a great range of independent shops and businesses in the town centre but we also have a host of well-known brands such as M&S Food Store, Go Outdoors, Home Bargains and Costa Coffee choosing to make new investments. This is great news for Tonbridge residents and visitors.”
