Regional News The Business Capital of Kent
supports the growth of MedTech, life-science, and healthcare sectors by offering cutting-edge technology, f lexible office and Healthcare spaces, meeting facilities, virtual offices, and comprehensive business support. MIC’s business community is growing fast and is now home to some of Kents leading MedTech innovation businesses.
For further information:
www.maidstoneinnovationcentre.co.uk Loc8
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Strategically located in central Kent between London and mainland Europe, Maidstone is the county town and second largest economy in Kent. Home to over 8,000 businesses from large multi-nationals to niche independents, with strengths in the engineering, manufac- turing, medical services, creative and media sectors. Much of the borough’s 152 square miles are set within beautiful rural country- side with charming villages, whilst the town straddles the banks of the River Medway. Served by two motorways (M20 &M2) with four junctions; close to the M25 and rail connections from the town to London Bridge, Victoria, St Pancras (HS1) and Charing Cross and easy access to London airports, international rail services from St Pancras as well as Dover and Tilbury Ports and Eurotunnel services. Maidstone is well placed to provide a practical alternative to London and other commercial centres in the UK and Europe.
Investors, businesses, young professionals and families are taking advantage of these links and the area’s competitive office and indus- trial rents, house prices, outstanding schools, cultural and leisure offer. The councils recently adopted Local Plan review (2024) will see an additional 13,200 jobs and 19,669 homes delivered by 2038.
Retail
Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre announced a multi-million-pound investment for a new long-term lease agreement with Frasers Group for its 101,921 sq. ft unit at M&G Real Estate’s Maidstone town cen- tre retail destination. The new agreement will see Frasers Group fully refurbish its current House of Fraser unit at Fremlin Walk into a flagship store for Kent. The renewed commitment from Frasers Group highlights continued demand from major retail brands for space at Fremlin Walk. The fit out started in April 2024 and was completed in October 2024. Following extensive internal and external refurbishment, The Mall welcomed B&M Stores in May 2024. The discount retailer has taken possession of a previous Wilko store which provides a space of 26,617sqft.
Commercial Maidstone Innovation Centre
The council is bringing for- ward 12,000 sq. ft of Grade ‘A’ office space with the refur- bishment of the fourth floor of Maidstone House. Awarded £300,000 of governments Getting Building Fund, open- ing in the summer of 2025, the Business Suite Phase 2 will provide high quality grow
on space for local companies complementing the councils start up co-working space The Business Terrace and Business Suite Phase 1. Opening in 2022 Maidstone Innovation Centre, a £14.5m invest- ment by Maidstone Borough Council and the European Regional Development Fund, is strategically located on the Kent Medical Campus off Junction 7 of the M20. This 30,000ft² state-of-the-art facility
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MONTHLY 2025 Loc8 Yalding Enterprise Park
Yalding Enterprise Park is located on the former Syngenta agro- chemical works, which ceased production in 2003. The park is located in the south of the Borough, opposite Yalding train station, 0.5 miles from the A228 and seven miles from junctions 2 and 4 of the M20/ M26. The first phase provides twenty units between 2,325-12,292 sq. ft with virtual Leasehold and Freehold options with significant yardage facilities. Practical completion of phase one is now complete and attracting occupiers. The scheme has a further three phrases of development planned.
Net Zero Skills Factory and Retrofit Centre
Appointed as one of eight national skills trail blazers, Mid Kent and North Kent College secured £5.6m of government funding in 2021 to develop a new ‘Net Zero Skills Factory’ offering both practical and theoretical skills in green construction and technologies. Located at the College’s Maidstone Campus, the factory opened in March 2023. To complement the ‘Net Zero Skills Factory’ the College allocated £2 million of this funding to develop a ‘Retrofit Centre’ , opening before the end of 2024. Mid Kent College aims to be Kent’s hub for sustain- able construction, offering courses that upskill and reskill workers to meet the UK’s 2050 net-zero targets.
For more information: Chris Inwood, Economic Development Manager T: 01622 602465 or
chrisinwood@maidstone.gov.uk www.businessinmaidstone.co.uk
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Clearbell Property Partners acquired a thirty-three acre (13.4ha) greenfield development site off Junction 8 of the M20 in 2019. Branded as LOC8, it is Maidstone’s premier commercial park, pro- viding logistics and industrial spaces from 4,004ft2 to 58,833ft2 and office spaces from 11,141ft2 . Work on the first phase started in 2022 and is now fully let and Clearbell broke ground on the second phase of LOC8 in early 2024 in what is the next step towards realising the site’s full potential of generating up to 1,200 new jobs. Market demand remains strong for the site, with Phase two 50% pre-let with the first occupiers expected in the spring of 2025.
For further information:
www.loc8maidstone.co.uk
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