News | Maidstone Studios
Smaller homes proposal welcomed by council
A PROPOSAL to reduce the num- ber of new homes on the site of Maidstone Studios, off New Cut Road, Vinters Park provoked con- trasting views from Maidstone Council's planning committee. Several councillors, including a
local ward member, were delighted that Hillreed Homes had opted to put 77 homes (54 houses and 23 flats) east of the studios, almost six years after Persimmon Homes was given permission for 142 homes, in- cluding 134 flats, on the land.
But Cllr Tony Harwood, a mem-
ber of the committee, said the schemewas “insanity”, adding:“We have got the most Eastern European- looking flats and 1970s-style houses. “The collateral damage of cats,
dogs and fireworks will sterilise the eastern edge of the Vinters Nature Reserve. “I fail to understand why officers
are not jumping up anddownabout design issues. It feels like the em- peror's new clothes – am I the only one thinking this?”
Apart from fellow ward member,
Cllr Jenni Paterson, he was. Cllr Dave Naghi, who represents East ward, said: “We all welcome this new application because it has halved the density of the previous application. Everyone didn't want the original scheme and thought this applicationwas much better.” The proposal was backed by nine members of the committee, with Councillors Harwood and Paterson voting against. There was one ab- stention.
downsmail.co.uk Data centre
DOUBTwas cast abouthowthe pro- ceeds of the development would benefit Maidstone Studios. In recent years the owner of the studios has set up Custodian, a data centre offering a safe and resilient environment for IT infrastructure and business-critical data. Custodian employs 18 staff and
has 230 customers. It supports local businesses and authorities in Kent andMedway with data centre facili- ties and high-speed broadband. The sale of its land to Hillreed Homes will raise £2.7m for the stu- dios, which, according to the officer report, will fund a data centre. Cllr Jenni Paterson said:“We have
not been given any information about how £2.7m on a data centre will feed back into the borough.”
Scheme ‘key to future of TV studios and businesses’
SOME councillors cited the contin- uation of Maidstone Studios as a key factor in backing the scheme. The studios employ 34 people
with 200 freelance crew regularly on site. The owner has also created a small business park with 32 on- site tenants and 25 virtual office clients. About 475 people are em- ployed by businesses on the site. The general manager of the Tudor Park Hotel estimates that ac-
tivity at the studios accounts for about 2,000 nights of room reserva- tions per year. In addition, the University for the Creative Arts, which left its site in Oakwood Park, Maidstone in 2014, retains a presence at the studios. Its roll of 40 pupils is set to rise to 300 by 2021. A supporting statement said:
“The release of the application site for development has always been
intended to create funds which are to be used to secure the future of Maidstone Studios. “The income generated by the studios’ activities is insufficient to generate borrowing capacity to up- grade facilities and invest in new facilities to ensure a long term vi- able future. “The absence of a land sale will
affect demand from users and also could threaten the longevity of the
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relationship with University for the Creative Arts.” Cllr Malcolm Greer, a committee member and also cabinet member for economic development, said: “Maidstone Studios has gone from near enough going out of existence to a major player in Maidstone.We would have liked 40% affordable housing, instead of the 25% pro- vided, but this is an enabler for the future.”
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