People poll picks the name for new retirement village on old cinema site
Exclusive by Richard Moore
Earlier this year, members of the public were invited to vote in a social media poll to decide what to call the new £72million retirement community in Tunbridge Wells town centre.
They were given three options: Paramount Place, Lumiere Heights or Cascade Place.
Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine can reveal that the winning name is … Paramount Place, which took 47% of the public vote.
The name is said to ‘reflect the vibrant central location’ of the 1.5 acre project being built at the top of Mount Pleasant Road in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.
It is part of the Thrive Living Collection by Retirement Villages and is designed to ‘foster community connections with a focus on wellbeing’.
The site had been plagued by problems since the cinema closed its doors in 2000 and there were multiple failed attempts by others to develop the plot. The new project will help rejuvenate the town centre.
Unlike care homes, independent retirement communities like Paramount Place cater to over 65s seeking a more ‘active and sociable lifestyle, rather than a care-led provision’.
Thrive Living also prefers to operate in central locations that make it easy for residents to stay connected to the wider community and enjoy direct access to all the amenities that an urban setting and vibrant community like Tunbridge Wells has to offer.
Aside from providing 166 apartments, Paramount Place will feature shared spaces for socialising, a restaurant open to residents and the public plus a ground-floor shops.
Construction is reported to be on schedule with groundworks complete and several buildings already rising above the hoarding boards. The developers say Paramount Place is due to open towards the end of 2026.
“This is an exciting time for everyone involved in Paramount Place and Thrive Living,” said Duncan Matthews, Development Director at Retirement Villages Group “We’ve moved beyond the early stages focused on foundations, and now the buildings are taking shape for all to see.
“We wanted the local community to help name the development, reflecting our commitment to making Paramount Place a true part of Tunbridge Wells. We’re not just building homes, we’re creating a community where older generations can thrive, stay active and connected.
“Paramount Place will offer a sense of belonging, supported by the vibrant local network of businesses, cultural hubs, and shops.”
