RBLI Factory Public exhibition
We are consulting on plans to replace our current outdated factory, home to Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC) and headquarters for RBLI, the national charity supporting Armed Forces veterans and people with disabilities.
The proposals are at the heart of RBLI’s strategic plan to sustain the national charity and work it undertakes to provide impact on the lives of veterans.
The time is right to build upon more than a century of supporting veterans through reemployment, training and accommodation, and create a new headquarters and conference and training centre for the charity
We would welcome your thoughts and feedback. This will help shape the final proposals and a planning application that will be submitted to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council for permission.
RBLI Factory Public exhibition
We are consulting on plans to replace our current outdated factory, home to Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC) and headquarters for RBLI, the national charity supporting Armed Forces veterans and people with disabilities.
The proposals are at the heart of RBLI’s strategic plan to sustain the national charity and work it undertakes to provide impact on the lives of veterans.
The time is right to build upon more than a century of supporting veterans through reemployment, training and accommodation, and create a new headquarters and conference and training centre for the charity
We would welcome your thoughts and feedback. This will help shape the final proposals and a planning application that will be submitted to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council for permission.
Our award-winning social enterprise (BBMC, and sister company SBMC), provides meaningful permanent employment to veterans and people with disabilities. BBMC produces road and rail signage, commercial signs and hoardings; Tommy products; print and mail, and health and safety signage.
RBLI currently employs over 200 people, of whom 60 work in our factory and a further 100 in the offices at our headquarters, with the rest in Leatherhead and Scotland.
WE WOULD LIKE YOUR VIEWS ON AN EXCITING NEXT CHAPTER FOR RBLI
The project team, including our architects, project manager, planning advisers and transport consultants will be there to answer questions on:
- Date: Tuesday 21st January
- Time: 14:00 – 19:00
- Venue: Capel Morris Centre, Hall Road, Aylesford, ME20 7NL
We are keen to hear your views as part of our community engagement. Once we have reviewed the feedback, a planning application will be submitted to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council.
Proposed Development
Sustainable Future
The new factory, warehouse and headquarters will be over 5,000m2 and would incorporate a new layout to greatly increase production capacity and job opportunities for veterans and those with disabilities.
Delivering on our promises
Our next mission will build on the success of our Centenary Village where we have successfully built 64 new homes so far. Now we need to improve the working environment in the factory and headquarters.
what we want to do
We want to replace the
existing factory to increase job opportunities, improve working conditions, increase capacity, maximise support for our Tommy products, and improve environmental credentials.
Funding Proposals
The new project would cost around £12m
and be funded through donations and sponsorship from partners. The good news is that to date more than £6m has been pledged to the project.
Current Factory
Doing nothing is no longer an option
The existing buildings have limited lifespan and are expensive to maintain.
They are energy inefficient – which is losing us contracts as purchasers increasingly look for low carbon suppliers. It is poorly laid out, which hampers our efficiency and productivity.
Poor environmental performance
The new building will be designed to very high standards of environmental and energy efficiency (BREEAM ‘excellent’). They would incorporate high levels of insulation to improve energy performance and reduce noise, plus solar panels, energy-saving lighting and rainwater harvesting.
Developing land for jobs
The proposed site sits adjacent to an existing site off Hall Road which is home to Howdens, FedEx and others. Although RBLI is not connected via a road to these businesses, it does mean that a site alongside the motorway and currently unused could be put to good use.
Improved visitor experience
As a national charity we welcome many important people, such as Government Ministers and business leaders, and while it’s clear that we do a lot of amazing work, the experience could be vastly improved.
Maximising charity resources
The proposed new buildings would be on land next to the M20 and has low saleable value. Relocating here is a good use of an existing RBLI asset.
Smooth transition
RBLI already owns the land so is able to build the new factory and HQ while the current ones remain in operation, minimising down time and disruption. The proposals also require no changes to the
current road network within RBLI’s village.
Project Benefits
Jobs and the economy
A better factory will enable RBLI to secure larger contracts. We aim to create 80 additional opportunities in Aylesford with another 100 people a year to benefit from a new learning academy.
Improving energy efficiency
The new building would be environmentally
outstanding in terms of operation and help to reduce running costs for the charity.
Location
The existing site is identified by the local council for employment – and specifically Class B Manufacturing use. It is owned by the charity and developing it is the most cost-effective solution.
Improving biodiversity
The proposals would meet the Government’s requirement to a deliver a biodiversity net gain (BNG) of 10%.
Better productivity
The factory is a key part of RBLI’s commercial operations, as all the profits are reinvested in the work of the charity. Having a more productive factory will increase profits and support more veterans.
NEXT Steps
Following conversations with stakeholders and a four-week public consultation, RBLI will review the feedback and submit a planning application to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. The target date for submission is during February, and the target determination date should be 13 weeks later.
Subject to planning permission being secured, the construction of the new buildings would take 18 months from starting on site.
- Submit application: February 2025
- Start on site: Spring 2026
- Operational: Summer 2027
