Policy information sourced from the Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038

LPRSP11: Economic Development.

The council is committed to supporting and improving the economy of the borough and providing for the needs of businesses. This will be achieved through the allocation of a range of sites across the borough, including new strategic sites in both garden settlements (see policy LPRSP11(B)), and through:

  • 1. The retention, intensification and regeneration of the existing industrial and business estates identified as Economic Development Areas as defined on the Policies Map;
  • 2. The retention, intensification, regeneration and expansion of the existing economic development premises in Maidstone Urban Area and the Rural Service Centres provided the site is in an appropriate location, when considered against other policies of the plan, and suited to the economic development use in terms of scale, impacts and economic viability;
  • 3. Enhancing the vitality and viability of Maidstone Town Centre and maintaining the hierarchy of retail centres;
  • 4. Supporting proposals that encourage highly skilled residents to work in the borough to reduce out-commuting;
  • 5. Improving skills in the workforce in particular by supporting further and higher education provision within Maidstone’s Urban Area;
  • 6. Supporting improvements in digital technology and communications to facilitate more flexible working practices;
  • 7. Prioritising the commercial re-use of existing rural buildings in the countryside over conversion to residential use, in accordance with policy LPRQD5; and
  • 8. Supporting proposals for the expansion of existing economic development premises in the countryside, including heritage and tourism related development, provided the scale and impact of the development is appropriate for its countryside location, in accordance with policy LPRCD6.

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