Controversial plans to demolish a 40-year-old leisure complex could see it transformed into more than 300 homes with a medical centre, hotel and a new town square.

An “in-principle” decision was made to knock down the Angel Centre in the heart of Tonbridge in December.

Cabinet members at Tonbridge and Malling council deemed the site in Angel Lane wasn’t up to standard and it would cost too much to fix.

Built in 1981, it was proposed the centre – which is expected to lose £265,000 this year – be demolished and a new multi-million pound venue built elsewhere.

However, hundreds of people joined a campaign group just weeks later opposing the demolition.

There were also fears the popular Tonbridge miniature railway – which is next to the town’s pool in Castle Street – was at risk but it has since been confirmed it is safe, and will not be sacrificed to make way for redevelopment. The layout was adopted as an Asset of Community Value in January.

Now options for a multi-million pound scheme with the potential to transform the key part of the town centre have been published.

They will be outlined at a meeting of councillors next Tuesday (March 12).

Multiple "transformative improvement" options are being proposed to redevelop the area east of Tonbridge High Street, surrounding Sainsbury’s supermarket.

The land is currently home to both the leisure centre and surface car parks nearby.

Options include creating a town square featuring more shops, low-rise housing, a hotel and a new medical centre, with improved walking and cycling routes.

Options to help meet the demand for housing in Tonbridge suggest the development could accommodate more than 300 homes.

The local authority says this would help meet the council’s “brownfield first” approach to hitting its target of delivering 16,000 new properties by 2039.

Councillors’ views will be sought on the type of housing and the proportion that should be classified as affordable.

Meanwhile, members of the council’s regeneration and property committee will also be asked for their views on future parking requirements if the existing car parks are put to other uses.

The creation of a new a multi-storey car park or providing parking beneath the new development has been suggested in the plans.

The ideas being put forward follow 18 months’ work supported by specialist consultants to explore how the area could be redeveloped to benefit the town.

A report to councillors highlights the significant benefits redevelopment could bring and seeks their views on which options should be taken to the next stage of planning.

Funding of £1.85m has been allocated in the council’s recently approved budget to support the project in addition to a pre-existing pot of £150,000.

Construction costs and funding routes, including private sector partnerships, will be explored in the next phase of the project.

Tonbridge and Malling council leader Cllr Matt Boughton says residents will be able to voice their opinions on the proposals soon.

The representative for East Peckham, West Peckham, Mereworth and Wateringbury ward said: "We want to invest in Tonbridge and make it an even better place to live, work and enjoy leisure time.

"We are at the very early stages of exploring ways to deliver transformative improvements to the town centre with many exciting ideas on the table.

"The next step will be to test their viability, their ability to help us meet our carbon neutral objectives and also give local residents and businesses a chance to have their say.

"We will be engaging with community groups and consulting the public as we move forward so that any decisions we take are fully informed by the views of those who care about Tonbridge and want to see it thrive in the years ahead."

Cllr Boughton has already promised the Angel Centre will stay in operation until a new centre has been built and opened elsewhere.

The decision to axe it has been challenged by multiple back-bench councillors.

Five criticised it as being too vague and called in the matter for review by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee.

The objectors – Cllrs Mark Hood (Green), George Hines (Green), Anna Cope (Green), Frani Hoskins (Lib Dem) and David Thornewell (Lib Dem) – said: “We disagree with the principle of demolishing the Angel Centre until a specific or shortlist of locations for its replacement has been agreed and we call on the Cabinet to reconsider its decision.”

However, when the scrutiny committee met in January, it decided the cabinet’s “in principle” decision to demolish the Angel Centre was the correct one.

The Angel Centre has been run on behalf of the council since 2013 by an independent non-profit-making body, the Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust, operating as tmactive.

It consists of 11 voluntary trustees and also looks after Larkfield Leisure Centre, Tonbridge Swimming Pool, Poult Wood Golf Course, The Games Hut at Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground, Kings Hill Sports Park and Leybourne Lakes Country Park.