Growing the Kent economy 2016/17

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56 kent.gov.uk/business
The area continued to attract strong
interest during the recession and has
seen substantial activity since.
The District Council has a strong
commitment to business support and
growth and has created a new Economic
Development and Property Team to
develop the Council’s Property Investment
Portfolio. Recent acquisitions include
Suffolk House, a fully let 1,625m2
(17,500ft2) office investment in
Sevenoaks town centre.
The Council’s Allocations and Develop-
ment Management Plan identifies a
range of new housing allocations and
key business sites that the Council aim
to retain and support in Sevenoaks,
Swanley, Edenbridge, New Ash Green
and Westerham amongst others. The
Borough Council has plans to build a
new multi-storey car park opposite the
station, and is in discussion with a
national hotel chain regards a new 80-
bed hotel also opposite the station. An
ambitious new masterplan is also being
prepared for Swanley town centre. An
application has been approved for the
redevelopment of Fort Halstead which
proposes up to 18,500m2 (199,132ft2) of
business space and 450 homes.
The district continues to attract large
companies, with Countryside Properties
opening a regional office in St John’s
House in Sevenoaks in April 2015.
Residential development at the ex-West
Kent Cold Store at Dunton Green, with
500 units of 1 to 5 bedrooms; 2,300m2
(24,756ft 2) of B1 commercial space, access
roads, parking, landscaping and open
space, is nearing completion. The former
police station redevelopment on
Morewood Close, Sevenoaks to provide
over 50 new homes, is now complete
and occupied.
Work has commenced on The Pembroke
development of 13 luxury apartments
in Sevenoaks town centre and Willmott
Dixon subsidiary Prime Place is well
advanced with the conversion of Tubs
Hill House, Sevenoaks to 90 1-and-2
bedroom apartments. The apartments
are being marketed.
For information about services to
businesses visit:
and restaurant floorspace (300 m2)
(3229 ft2) as well as a cinema. The
former cinema at Mount Pleasant Road
has been demolished and remains
available for development of a
significant mixed-use proposal. This
could include retail accommodation of
3,500m2 (37,673ft2), hotel/conference
facilities and other employment uses.
The Council continues to support the
Pantiles, a vibrant and historic area of the
town. Consent was granted to Curzon
Cinemas in July 2015 for the conversion
of premises linked to the Corn Exchange
to provide a new three screen cinema.
Close by, OneWarwick Park, a new 249m2
(2,680ft2) boutique hotel development
by Markerstudy Group, is currently
under construction, and is expected to
be complete in summer 2016.
Working in partnership with Kent County
Council and Southborough Town Council,
the Borough Council is also supporting
the delivery of the Southborough Hub
to include a new theatre/community
building, library, council offices, medical
centre, pavilion and new homes.
Construction work could commence
on-site towards the end of the year.
The dualling of the A21 between
Tonbridge and Pembury is expected to
complete in spring 2017. The scheme
will provide better vehicular connectivity
to the M25 and a new segregated route
for pedestrians and cyclists. This will
complement road improvements at
Longfield Road that have recently been
completed. These projects will support
business growth at North Farm which is
a key employment area, and location
for the development of 550 new homes
by Dandara.
For further information on investment
opportunities email:
Tonbridge and Malling
Work has begun on the Local Plan to set
out policies on permitted development
and where this can be, including new
homes, employment space and other
facilities. The Plan is out for consultation
with formal adoption expected in 2017.
At Kings Hill, outline permission has been
granted (subject to S.106 Agreement)
for a further phase of the site creating 635
homes, a new primary school and a park.
Peters Village is a 35ha (86.5 acre) site
near Wouldham, with consent for a new
village of 1,000 homes and a new access
bridge over the River Medway from the
A228. On completion it will comprise
11ha (27 acres) of public open space,
a new primary school, local centre and
employment units. Work has begun and
the bridge and highways improvements
are underway.
The Council continues to explore major
development opportunities in Tonbridge
to improve the retail offer. The Tonbridge
High Street Regeneration Initiative is
attracting investment with £2.62m from
the Government’s Local Growth Fund
on a project designed to enhance the
High Street and boost the local economy.
The joint scheme by Kent County Council
and Tonbridge & Malling Borough
Council started in August 2015 and
includes the widening of pavements,
improvement of road surfaces, a 20mph
speed limit and designated delivery
areas. It will transform the High Street,
be more pedestrian-friendly and
stimulate an increased café culture.
West Kent Partnership and the Kent and
Medway Economic Partnership helped
to secure Local Growth Fund investment
towards the £70m dualling of the A21
between Tonbridge and Pembury. Now
under construction for completion in
spring 2017, it aims to significantly
reduce congestion and benefit local
businesses. Local Growth Funding and
developer contributions have also been
secured for improvements to the M20
Junction 4. The scheme started in 2016
and will provide extra carriageway
space on the junction gyratory system.
For information on the range of
business support and investment
opportunities across Tonbridge and
Malling:
Sevenoaks
Excellent transport links, a highly
motivated/skilled workforce, a range of
office and industrial space within a
market town and stunning rural setting
make Sevenoaks District one of the best
places to live and do business in the UK.