Talks aiming to New scheme ‘will benefit town’
avoid backlash LAND Securities hopes by going public with its proposals and inviting feedback before submitting its plans, to head off any backlash to the redevelop- ment of Newnham Court. It arranged events this month
for Newnham Court tenants, councillors, and the public and has written to 7,500 residents inviting their views. Company spokesman Simon
Hoare said: “The company has been in talks with the borough and county councils for a num- ber of years, so this will not hit councillors’ desks cold. “There is always a danger that
if you go too early, people will complain you haven’t done your homework, or, if you ap- proach them too late, some will say it’s a fait accompli. Land Se- curities is hoping for support for what it sees as a very strong case for encouraging economic growth in the area.” Plansshouldbesubmitted in
the autumn. If approved, work could start next September,with the second phase complete by the end of 2016.
Traders positive INITIAL reaction to the propos- als by businesses at Newnham Court Village appears to be largely positive. Christiane Shaw, manager of Hammonds fitted furniture concession at Nottcutts for the last two years, believes it will attract customers. She said: “I think it’s a fantastic idea. We need something like this here.” She said that while traffic
was “horrendous”, she was sure they would get it right. Lisa Turner, from Bearsted,
who runs The Ice Cream Bar by the garden centre, said she was hoping to move to the new site. “I think it’s a good idea. There’s plenty of room here for what’s being proposed.”
LAND Securities’ regeneration plans for Newnham Court would extend the shopping area from 71,472 to 302,575 square foot. Despite this, Land Securities’ development director Chris Ward told the Downs Mail he was convinced it would “com- plement, rather than compete with”Maidstone town centre. He added: “We see this pro-
posal as bringing a much- needed ‘kerching’ to the tills in Maidstone, by enticing big name retailers in and keeping customers from travelling out to places like Bluewater. “It also offers Maidstone a fresh chance to secure stores
was in talks with local bus companies to extend both the park and ride scheme and im- prove bus services into town so that shoppers could easily travel into town after having decided to stay in Maidstone to spend their money at the vil- lage and the nearby Next store. Tony Collins, from Harve-
Tony Collins and ChrisWard
like Waitrose and Debenhams who have agreed to come if the plans are approved, after hav- ing looked exhaustively else- where in the town for a suitable site.” Mr Ward said the company
store, which opened Newnham Court Village in 1983, says he, too, is excited about the plans put forward by Land Securities to transform the site. He said: “We are extremely confident that this is the right direction for the site, and that is why there is no Plan B at this stage.”
Oast houses at heart of proposed retail village NOTCUTTS SHOP UNITS
NOTTCUTTS and its café would move to the north of the site, to a new two-storey building with 82,000 sq ft of retail space, as the first phase of the development, to guarantee seamless trading for the gar- den centre. It would be joined – once the site has
DEPARTMENT STORE
been demolished–by fellow“anchor ten- ants”: a two-storey Debenhams depart- ment store and Waitrose supermarket, with 29,000 sq ft for food aisles, on the Bearsted Road edge of the new village. Additional shop units would be provided for existing tenants and newnames. The pub, oast house offices and nurs-
A249
erywould be retained, and the veterinary practicewould not be affected.
£5 million to improve traffic flow on local roads
LAND Securities says it has ear- marked £5m to improve traffic management in the area. It proposes:
Moving the site access from Bearsted Lane to a slip road off the KIMs roundabout; Traffic lights at junction 7 and the Bearsted Road and KIMs roundabouts; Dualling the road between the Bearsted Road and KIMs
roundabouts; Pedestrian crossings at the Bearsted Road and KIMs roundabouts
Farmworkers’ cabins plan
PLANS to replace three polytunnels on farm- land at East Malling Research with cabins to accommodate 48 seasonal workers have been submitted to Tonbridge andMalling Council. The East Malling Trust proposes to install
the single-storey sleeping accommodation at Park Farm, Bradbourne Lane, Ditton, and convert the nearby Garner building to pro- vide WCs, showers, a laundry, kitchen and common room. Agent Broadlands Planning said the EMR
estate, centred on BradbourneHouse and the research buildings, is generally run by a farm managerwith five full-time staff and up to 48 seasonal workers, who are employed mainly from March to October, with three remaining over the wintermonths. They currently live in a hostel at Great East House, within the estate, but these premises are to be refurbished to provide accommoda- tion for PhD research students. The agent says there is a need for on-site ac- commodation for seasonal workers for a number of reasons.
6 Malling “There is no local force willing to take up
this
employment.Traditional local labour has long ceased to be available as that generation has largely retired and other opportunities for younger local people who mainly require work all year round have developed,” said a representative from Broadland Planning. “Experience also suggested that local resi-
dents do not wish to work for a rate close to the national minimum wage, in horticulture, with a very early start, at weekends, and in inclement weather etc. “Foreign staff are, however, still keen to un- dertake seasonal horticultural and harvesting work, as there are not the same employment opportunities in their home countries.” The site is almost wholly screened from
the neighbouring conservation area and his- toric park and garden by adjacent buildings and landscaping, said the agent. The seasonal workers are employed by reg- istered charity Concordia, which sets out site requirements and imposes a strict code of conduct.
Improving cycle routes and bus links Jason Lewis (pictured), from Maidstone planning firm DHA, who has been acting as transport consultant, said: “We expect to not only keep traffic flows as they are, but to improve them.” A transport assessment plan
for the area was not available, but will be submitted to the council in the autumn.
Post office move EAST Peckham Post Office will close for a weekend while it moves to new premises. Thebranchismovinglessthanhalfa
mile from Pound Road to its new home at East Peckham News in Orchard Road. The move will bring extended opening hours, including a Sunday service. It will close on Saturday, November 9,
and re-open at the new site on Monday, November 11.Hadlow and PaddockWood post offices will remain open during the weekend closure.
From beat to beauty THE former police office at Twisden Road, East Malling, is to become a beauty salon. The change of use to a retail unit was ap- proved by Tonbridge andMalling Council. The site is in a parade of shops which includes three takeaways, a convenience store and a hairdressers. Until December 2012, the office was
used by Kent Police and other organisa- tions as a “One Stop Shop”, and has stood empty since then
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