Maidstone and West Kent

Maidstone

Major new housing and employment sites have been allocated by Maidstone Borough Council.

The Kent Institute of Medicine and Surgery (KIMS) is investing £80m in a new hospital at M20 Junction 7 as part of the Maidstone Medical Campus Masterplan being promoted by DHA Planning. The new hospital, designed by David Morley Architects, is being built by Vinci Construction.

The new Kent History and Library Centre is a mixed-use purpose built development with 60 residential units and a 57 unit extra-care facility. Nearby, Maidstone United's new 3,000 capacity ground, 'The Gallagher Stadium', has been built at Whatman Park. Maidstone Museum's £3m restoration and the Maidstone public realm project were both completed in 2012.

Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells' Core Strategy was adopted in 2010 with consultation in autumn 2012. A Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule accompanies the policy and a Borough Transport Strategy is being prepared.

The Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company, established in 2008, is considering options for John Street and Mount Pleasant car parks and Cranbrook Council Offices.

Berkeley Homes bought the Kent & Sussex Hospital site and a planning application for residential development with potential office space is expected in late 2012.

Hermes Real Estate has invested in Royal Victoria Place taking full control of the shopping centre. The new owner of Lower Pantiles is reviewing the strategy for the area.

Tonbridge & Malling

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Core Strategy was adopted in 2007 with no plans currently to review it. A Development Land Allocations DPD, a Town Centre Area Action Plan and a Managing Development and the Environment DPD have also been adopted.

Liberty Property Trust UK, developers of the 363 ha (897 acre) mixed-use, sustainable development at Kings Hill, has announced a review of the masterplan to see how they can better respond to current market demands and, in particular, the need for more housing. With established infrastructure, Kings Hill is well placed to accommodate further, carefully designed, residential-led development via an application for change of use of some, as yet undeveloped remaining consented commercial space. Proposals are likely to include up to 1,000 new homes, possible new primary school, retirement homes, residential care home and landscaped open space. The indicative planning application timeline is for community consultation Q3/Q4 2012, a planning application by the end of 2012 and for local authority statutory consultation thereafter.

Sevenoaks

The District Council adopted the Core Strategy in February 2011. An application has been submitted for redevelopment of a site west of Blighs Meadow for retail and residential. West Kent Cold Store site at Dunton Green is being built out with 500 residential units and 2,300sqm (24,757sqft) of B1 commercial space. Horton Kirby Paper Mills site was completed in 2011, providing 214 homes and commercial space.