Tonbridge is one step closer to getting a new leisure and community centre, shops and a cinema for its town centre, with the council signing a legal agreement with Sainsbury's for the redevelopment.

The purpose of the regeneration is to stimulate the town's economic vitality, attracting new retailers to the area and shoppers back to the city centre, creating new jobs in the process.

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council and Sainsbury's will develop and submit detailed designs by summer.

The council is currently undertaking a survey of leisure activities available in the town to determine what else the town needs, with core elements in the new centre expected to include gym and fitness facilities and a multi-use space for dance, meetings and events.

Pending planning approval construction will begin on the leisure centre at the end of the year and take about 18 months to complete.

The council said the location of the leisure and community centre will be in close proximity to the town centre and transport links.

An improved and upgraded supermarket, new shops and the cinema are to be complete by the end of 2016.