1. Maidstone East as identified on the Policies Map, is allocated for the development of approximately 500 dwellings, 2,000m2 new retail, 5,000m2 business and other appropriate town centre uses such as a medical facility. The following conditions are considered appropriate to be met before development is permitted.

Design, Layout, and Heritage

2. Should the site be delivered in one or more phases, the council will ensure that the overall capacity and requirements of the policy are met, and the planning and design principles set out in the policy remain able to be consistently applied across the site. Development shall be informed by a townscape and heritage assessment that identifies, for example, key views towards/ from Sessions House, other heritage assets and Brenchley Gardens and other important areas of public realm.

3. Any development shall incorporate a mix of uses which ensure that the site contributes positively to this town centre location, providing an active street frontage.

4. Development proposals will be required to demonstrate that the opportunity for non-residential uses has been optimised.

5. The form and scale of development on this site must be sensitive to the site’s prominence and adjacency to heritage assets.

6. Subsequent detailing and use of materials shall be of a high quality.

7. The scheme shall deliver a more prominent station/ forecourt entrance, whilst enhancing the public realm fronting onto Sessions House Square/Week Street.

8. The development shall be designed to respond to its context and respect the setting of the listed Sessions House and other nearby heritage assets.

9. The proposals must demonstrate that a permeable scheme can be achieved, delivering improved visual and physical connections between Sessions Square and Brenchley Gardens.

10. Assessment of the archaeological potential of the site shall be undertaken and the measures needed to address the assessment’s findings secured.

11. The development shall incorporate car parking to serve Maidstone East station.

12. Maintenance access for Network Rail to the western end of the railway tracks is secured.

Landscape/Ecology

13. In addition to new areas of public realm, the development shall incorporate high quality communal and private amenity areas for residents. New landscaping shall make a positive contribution to place- making and provide the opportunity for habitat creation.

14. A phase 1 habitat survey will be required, which may as a result require on and/or-off site mitigation for the existing habitat of local fauna/ flora.

15. Having regard to the site’s size, measures for positive biodiversity net gain shall be incorporated into the scheme.

Noise

16. Development will be subject to a noise survey to determine any necessary measures in respect of its town centre location, including both road and rail traffic impacts, as well as noise and activity arising from the site’s town centre location.

Air Quality

17. Appropriate air quality measures to be agreed with the council which will be implemented as part of the development. These shall ensure that new residents are not exposed to unacceptable conditions and to also ensure that the development does not adversely impact upon existing air quality levels.

Access/Highways and Transportation

18. Town centre locations benefit from lower trip rates and lower car ownership levels, reducing the level of mitigation necessary.

19. If a car free or reduced level of parking is proposed, proportionate and directly related contributions will be required to sustainable transport improvements within the town centre.

20. Secure cycle parking for residents to be provided.

21. As part of the station forecourt enhancement scheme, the development shall enable enhancement to the interchange between buses, trains, andt taxis, including through the provision of improved pick up/drop off facilities.

22. The development shall not inhibit the ability to achieve full disabled access to the station and platforms.

23. It is envisaged that highway access to the residential development shall be taken from Sandling Road. An additional, in-bound only access to the former Sorting Office part of the site could be taken from Fairmeadow, subject to any impacts upon the wider public realm strategy.

24. A service strategy for the non-residential elements will demonstrate that the amenity and quality of the residential element of the scheme is not undermined.

Flood Risk/Drainage

25. The submission of a detailed surface water drainage strategy for the development based around sustainable drainage principles.

Open Space

26. Appropriate residential amenity space may take the form of balconies and/or terraces and communal gardens, subject to their ability to provide an acceptable level of amenity having regard to noise, air quality and adjacency of other uses.

27. Amenity spaces should form an integrated element of the overall scheme design.

28. Where it is not feasible, due to site characteristics to provide an appropriate level of on-site amenity space for residents in accordance with policies LPRSP13 and LPRINF1, the scheme shall make appropriate financial contributions towards off-site provision/public realm improvements within the wider town centre.

Utilities Infrastructure

29. Connections to the nearest points of the network (with adequate capacity) will be required for all utilities.

Public Realm

30. Improvements at Sessions House Square and Week Street to provide an

enhanced public open space and public realm.

31. Contributions to a comprehensive public realm enhancement scheme for the stretch of Week Street linking the site to the junction with Fremlin Walk, and from the site to Brenchley Gardens, to significantly upgrade the quality and attractiveness for pedestrians.

For more information, please visit Maidstone’s Local Plan Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038