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The Future of Maidstone Special supplement, October 2020
Future of Maidstone
THE shape of Maidstone over the next 30 years is emerging in key policy proposals now before Maidstone Borough Council, with more to come.
Key aims of the emerging Re-
vised Local Plan are to try to ensure infrastructure improvements, em- ployment growth, maximising the natural environment (especially the rivers) and developing the cultural offer and visitor economy. The biggest challenges involve trying to meet ever-growing Gov- ernment demands for huge in- creases in housing numbers. A meeting of Maidstone Bor- ough Council’s Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee was presented massive reports (2,500 pages) with new detail and com- ments on such vital issues as: l Siting four new garden villages of seven researched. The current targets are LENHAM HEATH, MARDEN, LIDSING and poten- tially LEEDS LANGLEY CORRI- DOR (subject to progress on proposals for a new bypass). Three excluded are: DETLING’S BIN- BURY PARK, land north of STA- PLEHURST and PAGEHURST FARM, Staplehurst. l Evaluation of most of the 330 “call for sites” submissions made by landowners last year, indicating which should progress. l Total new houses – and types – demanded in Maidstone in the Local Plan period up to 2037. The 2017 Local Plan needs up- dating to be approved by a Gov- ernment inspector for adoption in 2022 to cover the period up to 2037.
Dilemma
The council faces a major dilemma. The Government is talk- ing of increasing yet again its house building demands. For Maidstone this means in- creasing the target (currently 883 a year and newly targeted at 1,214) to an even bigger target close to 1,600 – an increase on the current level (proving difficult for the council to reach) of about 80%. Maidstone and most councils across the South East are deeply concerned, and many MPs are de- manding Government steps back (see page 8).
Work on Maidstone’s Local Plan Review is well advanced, based on the already challenging 1,214 fig- ure, and the council is trying to ex- pedite the review’s progress so it is based on current (not new) Gov- ernment methodology.
One step being considered is taking months out of the work programme, partly by eliminating local consultation – but the com- mittee has twice voted against this, because without local demo- cratic views, a Government in- spector could have reason to reject the total Revised Plan. The council fears it will almost inevitably end up with the much higher housing figure, but its pro- posed strategy would give more time to plan for the community, employment and social infras- tructure and place less pressure on protected areas and land- scapes.
Protests
New developments built or planned to meet the current hous- ing target are causing increasing protests from residents concerned about impacts on their area – se- rious traffic congestion across Maidstone before the pandemic, lack of supporting infrastructure and inadequacies in key services, including health. But many borough councillors see emerging Government poli- cies making matters worse. One frustrated leading councillor said: “I have no idea now where we are going to put all these houses.”
Big plans for riverside
THE high-profile riverside area opposite Royal Engineers Way could be in for major changes now a Call for Sites proposal has been declared “suit- able” for deeper investigation. The area covers Baltic Wharf Powerhub, and major stores Wickes, TK Maxx, Hobbycraft, The Range and Asda Living. Land use would change from “mixed, retail warehouse, industrial” to “re-
tail, community and leisure”, with hundreds of residential units incorpo- rated. The land is owned by Canada Life, and MBC is listed as the agent. The current plan shows three linked sites covering: a small car park and
taekwondo centre north of the high-level bridge; the Powerhub Victorian riverside warehouse, little Dino’s softplay and associated car parking; and the many retail warehousing units either side of St Peter’s Street. The existing residential estate separates sites 2 and 3. The Powerhub building (former Tilling Stevens factory) is grade 2 listed
and “a degree of alteration to facilitate conversion has been accepted under appeal”. Use of this building is seen as: food store, professional and finan- cial services, cafes and restaurants, employment and leisure/assembly. The proposal says: “The site could come forward in the medium to long
term and has reasonable prospects for delivery.” The key will be finding another suitable location for the large retail stores.
INSIDE
Four new garden villages P2-3 Call for Sites decisions Improving key services Tackling road jams The old cinema
P4-5 P6 P7 P8
Will offices get a new look? COULD there be an office renaissance in Maidstone town centre? An economic report looks at high-quality office space, meeting rooms
and reception/concierge services, which would be rented on an ad-hoc basis. It suggests this would fit in with more modern working practices such
as remote/home working, and also provide professional solutions for smaller start-up businesses. Locating these close to rail links to and from London encourages busi- nesses to locate in the town centre.
Providing a full range of legal services to Maidstone’s business community from our offices in Mill Street for over 100 years.
GP surgeries
THE NHS has indicated to MBC some of its longer-term plans for GP surgeries in the borough. It says a new town centre
surgery will be needed. Marden has room to expand, but if a gar- den village is created, a new build- ing would be required. Development towards Sutton
Valence could lead to the local practice moving to the A274. New garden villages have the
potential to provide GP facilities or expand existing surgeries. Harrietsham needs better quality
provision and developments could be an opportunity to upgrade. The council has collected devel-
oper financial contributions and is concerned the NHS is not meeting the needs of some areas.
www.gullands.com 1
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