The Future of Maidstone Special supplement, October 2020


‘Suitable’ sites, large and small


WELL over 300 land offers were made in response to Maidstone Council’s Call for Sites, and 119 of them have been recommended by consultants as suitable for further investigation.


They are spread across the bor-


ough, with a concentration in five areas previously earmarked for growth: Lenham, Harrietsham, Headcorn, Staplehurst and Mar- den, in addition to urban Maid- stone. This selection indicates the vari- ety of suitable sites.


Len House, Mill Street, Maid-


stone: The former Rootes/Peugeot garage, a listed building, is pro- moted for conversion with linked new buildings for commercial, res- idential, leisure and cultural use. The existing building would be converted with commercial on the ground floor (mostly food outlets) and 50/70 residential units above or separately. Features include a river- side walk and open-air café off Mill Street. A recent planning applica- tion was successful. Former British Legion Social Club, Bicknor Road, Parkwood: The MBC site is currently the home of Weavering Warriors Rugby Club, including a clubhouse and parking. The plan for 36 residential units and


JUNCTION of New Cut Road and Bearsted Road; south of Forge Lane, East Farleigh; the Finches Caravan Park; Teiside Nurseries, Laddingford; south of Tumblers Hill, Sutton Va- lence; east and west of Hunton Road. Junction Vicarage Lane/Lower


Road, East Farleigh; Detling Quarry, Boughton Mount Farm and yard; Ab- bots Court Farm; Tong Meadow, Har- rietsham.


Harrietsham Rectory; Bell Farm, Harrietsham; north and south Church Lane, Detling; east of Old Chatham Road. Vicarage Road, Yalding; south of


Warmlake Road; Brickfields Farm and Rosemount, Staplehurst; Iden Manor


is shown as available now. Heniker Lane/Headcorn Road,


Sutton Valence: About 150 residen- tial units are proposed for this part agricultural, part equestrian 8.62- hectare site south of the lower part of Sutton Valence. The recently- completed Greensand Meadow de- velopment adjoins the site to the north. Proposed uses are residen- tial, office, retail and community. Sutton Valence Surgery: There are two offers in this area of South Lane The first is for the GP surgery site and parking, promoted for res- idential use. The second is for about two hectares of land south of the surgery modelled for 39 residential units and community. Currently, it has equestrian use, and adjoins back gardens of Captain’s Close. Old Goods Yard, Lenham: There are phased applications from Rus- sell and Russell Roofing Ltd for res- idential on this Headcorn Road agricultural/business land. The site is partially in Harrietsham and Lenham Vale landscape area. 34-35 High Street, Maidstone:


MBC land between High Street and Medway Street is used for retail and parking and is promoted for 5- 10 residential units and retail use in a period of 10 years plus.


Baldwins Farm, Staplehurst: SOME SITES RECOMMENDED FOR REJECTION


Farm; Rectory Fields, Staplehurst; Brattle Farm; Bydews riverside farm, Lower Road, East Farleigh (500). Lested Farm; west of Chart Cor- ner/Plough Wents Road junction (750); Fair View Farm, Coxheath; south of Court Lodge Road, Harriet- sham; Hockers Lane, Detling (430/500). Hockers Farm, Detling; east of Cop-


per Lane, Marden; west of Pattenden Lane, Marden; Bridge Farm; between A229 and Old Chatham Road; Court Lodge Farm, East Farleigh (226-274). Lenham Sandpit; Homewood Or-


chard Garden Centre, Farleigh Lane (90); Lenham Court; Amsbury Road, Coxheath; Fairview Farm, Sutton Va-


lence (320). East of Jubilee Cottages, Sutton Valence; West of Well Street, Coxheath (240). Lenham Court, Lenham (50-90);


Fir Tree and Norton Lea, Chart Sut- ton/Sutton Valence (1,000). South of The Lodge, Amsbury


Road, Hunton; Vicarage Lane, Yald- ing; Wares Farm, Lenham; Bridge Farm, Water Lane, Thurnham; Mount Farm, Harrietsham; Spenny Farm, Marden (640). Gravelly Bottom Road, Kingswood,


proposed new settlement (900 plus employment units, shop, primary school, GP surgery); South of Warm- lake Road, Chart Sutton; South of Ashford Road, Hollingbourne (60).


BearstedPrimary Academy


A brand new school where ambition knows no bounds, making every moment count


5 Rear Ashford Road, Bearsted (50);


Court Lodge Views, West Farleigh; opposite Dingley Dell, Heath Road, East Farleigh. Otham Street/Whitehorse Lane,


Otham (215); Banky Meadow, Ash- ford Road, Bearsted (74); Madam Taylors Farm, Otham; North of Church Lane, Detling (150/200) and South of Church Lane (360); The Grange, George Street, Staplehurst (92); Pilgrims Way, Harrietsham, for gypsy/travellers. NOTE: When the recommenda- tions have been considered by the committee the decisions will be published by Maidstone Borough Council on its website.


Farleigh protests and relief...


RURAL East Farleigh was alarmed last November by 16 Call for Sites offers. The parish council is to protest now four have been se- lected for further consideration – three in the Heath Rd/Upper Dean St area and one at the Stockett Lane/Workhouse Lane junction. Chairman Glyn Charlton said there was relief that larger, high-profile village centre sites had been rejected, including up to 274 houses at Court Lodge Farm, Bydews farmland (500 units) and land opposite The Bull pub (60 units). Cllr Charlton said the parish had concerns about


the possibility of development in other parts of Maidstone, with de- mands on infrastructure and increased traffic on narrow lanes and over the medieval bridge. He highlighted Fant Farm and Abbey Court Farm, Tovil, which would involve a roundabout in Dean St.


... but sadly not for Barming


“WHAT is left of the Barming I love and cherish?” asks Cllr Fay Gooch, deputy mayor for Maidstone and chairman of Barming Parish Council.


She protested at a meeting of the Strategic Plan- ning and Infrastructure Committee that land in North Street, opposite the Red Start pub, would be considered for 180 houses. With all the development in Hermitage Lane – and an application on the way for 300 more houses in the Peafield – she asks if Barming should now be left in peace.


This is an area of irregular, grassed fields north and west of Marden Road with the farmyard and houses to the south. The change would be from agricultural to resi- dential for about 120 units. Linden Farm, Coxheath: Garden land off Stockett Lane, Coxheath, partly in Workhouse Lane area of East Farleigh, and is promoted for residential (5-9 units).


Heath Road, East Farleigh:


Agricultural and equestrian land owned by farmer Mr D Fermor at junction of Heath Rd and Gallants Lane, East Farleigh, with a residen- tial capacity estimated at 35 units. Land off Lenham Road, Head-


corn: These two grassland fields, used for grazing, neighbour Head- corn cricket and tennis club to the north. Recent development at The Weavers is to the south west. It is proposed for 56 residential units.


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