THE ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND RUSTHALL COMMONS ARE FOR SALE!

Our Commons – What Happens Now?

Our 256 acres of ancient woodland, heathland, sandstone outcrops such as Toad Rock and Wellington Rocks, and open green spaces are a huge part of what makes living in Rusthall and Tunbridge Wells so special.

As a resident of Rusthall who regularly walks the Commons, I know how much they mean to local people. They are places where generations of residents have walked, played, exercised, enjoyed nature and simply escaped the pressures of everyday life.

That is why the decision by Targetfollow (Pantiles) Limited to put the Commons up for sale caused such concern locally.

Many people were surprised to discover that the Commons have always been privately owned. Targetfollow acquired them in 2008 and, following a strategic review of its property portfolio, decided to sell them.

The Pantiles itself is not included in the sale.

The sale presented what was described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the community to acquire the Commons. Because the Commons are registered as an Asset of Community Value, the Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons were able to exercise the Community Right to Bid. The six-month moratorium expired on 26 March 2026.

So where are we now?

The Friends did submit a formal community bid.

However, there is a significant difference between the Friends' assessment of the value of the Commons and the expectations of the vendor. The Friends say their assessment is approximately £1 million, although they indicated that their pledges would enable them to bid above that figure. They also say that Targetfollow's valuation is more than three times higher.

As a result, the Commons have not been transferred into community ownership.

The Friends have made it clear that they remain committed to the idea of community ownership and are prepared to explore the opportunity should circumstances change. They have also said that, because property transactions can involve lengthy periods with little public information, they will provide further updates when there are meaningful developments rather than speculate.

This means that the future ownership of the Commons remains uncertain.

What about development?

It is important to be factual about this. The sale of the Commons does not mean that a new owner can simply build on them.

There are substantial existing protections, including common land and village green protections, planning controls, conservation designations and the statutory role of the Tunbridge Wells & Rusthall Commons Conservators. The Commons remain managed by the Conservators, irrespective of who owns the freehold.

The Friends have nevertheless highlighted concerns about some of the commercial possibilities referred to in the sales material, including potential income associated with the car parks and other uses. They argue that the layered legal and planning protections substantially restrict many of these possibilities.

In April 2026, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council also introduced an Article 4 Direction removing permitted development rights for use of land as a caravan site on Tunbridge Wells Common, meaning planning permission is required for such a use.

The important point is that ownership and protection are two different issues. The existing protections remain, but a community owner would provide a different form of long-term stewardship and would remove the possibility of the freehold subsequently being sold to another commercial owner.

What happens next?

For now, we wait.

The community bid has demonstrated the strength of local feeling and the desire of many residents to see the Commons remain under local charitable ownership. But the financial gap between the community bid and the vendor's expectations is substantial.

This is therefore no longer a question of simply meeting a March deadline. It is about whether circumstances change sufficiently to make community ownership achievable.

Whatever happens, the Commons will continue to be an important part of our community. The Conservators will continue their statutory role in managing and protecting them, and the Friends will continue their work supporting their long-term protection.

For those of us who live in Rusthall and Tunbridge Wells, the lesson from this process is perhaps the most important point of all: we should never take our Commons for granted.

They may feel as though they belong to all of us, but legally they have always been privately owned.

The opportunity to bring them into community ownership may yet return. If it does, I hope the community will once again come together to consider how we can secure their future.

For the latest information, residents can follow the Friends of Tunbridge Wells & Rusthall Commons and Tunbridge Wells & Rusthall Commons websites.

For now, we should remain informed, remain vigilant and, above all, continue to value and protect this extraordinary part of our community.

Rob Grindley