Royal Victoria Place, in Tunbridge Wells, will create 120,000 sq ft of retail space after the centre’s £70m extension was given the go ahead.

Borough council chiefs have officially given the green light to the scheme, which includes 14 new retail units.

The additional space will be targeted at “key fashion brands”, shopping centre landlord Hermes Investment Management said.

The development, which is 300,000 sq ft in total, will also house food and beverage and leisure space, including a 30,000 sq ft cinema.

It will add to the Fenwick-anchored centre’s existing retail offer, which already includes the likes of M&S, Next, H&M, Boots, Topshop and Superdry.

Hermes Investment Management’s head of private markets Chris Taylor said: “Achieving this planning consent represents both Hermes Investment Management and the local authority’s strong commitment to enhancing the status of the town’s retail and leisure offer.

“Already the region’s dominant shopping destination, Royal Victoria Place will now further capitalise on the potential that its affluent catchment offers, and we are delighted with the result.”