1. The former Springfield Library site as identified on the Policies Map, is allocated for the development of approximately 150 dwellings. The following conditions are considered appropriate to be met before development is permitted.

Design and Layout

2. Development shall respect the setting of the listed Springfield Mansion.

3. The scheme shall provide a positive aspect to Old Chatham Road.

4. Taller buildings will be subject to an acceptable townscape impact assessment and to be of a high-quality design.

5. The height and scale of buildings shall respect the amenity of surrounding residential schemes.

6. The layout of buildings should seek to encourage permeability through the site.

7. Where viable the council would support the inclusion of an active ground floor use.

Landscape/Ecology

8. 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.

9. Any scheme must enhance the public realm surrounding the site.

10. Any proposal shall respect any existing trees on site and should be accompanied by an arboricultural assessment. The removal of any existing trees shall be fully justified and accompanied by a replacement planting scheme. Such a scheme shall include measures to incorporate biodiversity net gain.

Access/Highway and Transportation

11. The site’s edge of centre location offers opportunities to incorporate measures to encourage lower trip rates and lower car ownership levels.

12. Car parking provision should reflect the site’s proximity to the town centre and Maidstone East station. Any scheme shall be accompanied by a parking strategy that incorporates measures to mitigate the impacts of reduced parking levels and to mitigate the potential impacts of parking dispersing into the wider area, with proportionate financial contributions towards sustainable transport improvements within the vicinity of the site/town centre.

13. Secure cycle parking for residents to be provided.

14. The site should be designed to complement and enable local improvements to the A229.

Noise

15. Development will be subject to a noise survey to determine any necessary measures in respect of the site’s adjacency to the A229.

16. The scheme shall be designed with adequate noise insulation for future residents in order that the ongoing viability of surrounding commercial uses is not compromised.

Air Quality

17. The site lies within an area where the air quality is affected by heavy traffic levels. Appropriate air quality mitigation measures are to be agreed with the council which 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.

Open Space

18. Having regard to the site’s small footprint, suitable residential amenity space may take the form of balconies and/or terraces, subject to their ability to provide an acceptable level of amenity having regard to noise, air quality and adjacency of other buildings.

19. 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.

Utilities Infrastructure

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

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