Policy information sourced from the Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038
LPRSP5(B): Invicta Park Barracks Strategic Development Location.
Invicta Park Barracks is identified as an allocation for a target of 1,300 dwellings from the middle of the Local Plan period. The council will work with the Ministry of Defence and Annington to produce an agreed Supplementary Planning Document to masterplan and facilitate the site’s delivery. The following criteria must be met in addition to other policies of this plan:
- 1. Prior to the first occupation of any floorspace or units on the development of a ‘Vision and Validate’ and ‘Monitor and Manage’ strategy shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority, in consultation with National Highways and KCC Highways. Thereafter, the approved framework shall be implemented until full completion of the development unless otherwise agreed by the Local Planning Authority, in consultation with National Highways and KCC Highways;
- 2. Preparation and submission of a development brief and a masterplan prepared in conjunction with and for approval by the council to guide development;
- 3. Housing completions are anticipated to commence 2027/28, with infrastructure being delivered in accordance with the table below:
| Phase | Development | Indicative Infrastructure Secured |
|---|---|---|
| (Phase 1) From 2027 | Cumulative total: circa 500 homes | • Mechanism agreed for comprehensive redevelopment of the wider Invicta Park Barracks to deliver 1,300 new homes • Identification of land for future educational needs and mechanisms for provision to KCC subject to need being established. • Timescales and phasing for withdrawal confirmed with MoD; • Pedestrian/cycle connections to town entre • Open space complementary to new homes; • Confirmation on reprovision of Hindu Temple; • Strategy for re-use of Park House and surrounding parkland/woodland agreed; • Biodiversity Plan agreed. |
| (Phase 2) From 2032 | Cumulative total: Circa 1,000 homes | • Central parkland enhancement completed; • Subject to Transport Assessment and Monitor and Manage Strategy A229 Junction and Sandling Lane improvements completed (to facilitate access arrangements). • Subject to Transport Assessment and Monitor and Manage Strategy, off- site highways mitigations in the vicinity of the site are completed. • New Local/ neighbourhood centre established; • Open space complementary to new residential units. |
| (Phase 3) By 2037 | • Cumulative total: minimum 1,300 homes • New Local/Neighbourhood Centre completed • New through school subject to future need being established | • Open space complementary to new residential units; • North-South Bus route operational. |
- 4. Integration of new development within the existing landscape structure of the site (supported by ecological, arboricultural, and landscape and visual impact assessments together with the identification of detailed mitigation measures where appropriate);
- 5. Ensuring requisite community facilities, which may include neighbourhood shopping and health facilities are delivered where proven necessary and in conjunction with housing;
- 6. Provision of publicly accessible open space, including natural and semi- natural open space, as proven necessary, and/or contributions;
- 7. Off-site highway improvements as necessary to mitigate the impact of development;
- 8. Securing a network of public footpath and cycling routes through the site;
- 9. Preservation of features of ecological importance, including the retention and enhancement of wildlife corridors, and ensuring that connection with ecological features and corridors outside the site is maintained/enhanced, and securing biodiversity net gain, in accordance with policy LPRSP14(A);
- 10. Enhanced walking, cycling and public transport connections to the town centre and local area;
- 11. Preservation of Park House (Grade II*) and its setting, in particular the parkland to the north and east of Park House;
- 12. Development proposals must demonstrate that the necessary sewerage infrastructure is either available or can be delivered in parallel with the development;
- 13. The SPD should have a focus on celebrating the military heritage and broader history of the site;
- 14. Retention of a Hindu place of worship within the site will be required;
- 15. Provision of an 8 FE all through school (2FE primary and 6FE secondary) on the wider Invicta Park Barracks site, subject to continuing review of future educational need in Maidstone borough and an ongoing assessment of other sites in and around the town centre with the scope to accommodate some or all of the educational need;
- 16. A bespoke infrastructure funding agreement based on the value captured from the development and expected to be higher than that which would ordinarily be captured using a borough CIL approach will be pursued, with the expectation that this should be spent on infrastructure locally, and in the surrounding areas where suitable;
- 17. The indicative framework diagram below will be used to inform the preparation of the SPD for Invicta Barracks and detailed site masterplanning.
For more information, including links to relevant diagrams, please visit Maidstone’s Local Plan Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038