The Aylesford Newsprint site represents an “amazing regeneration opportunity,” according to planning consultants, despite politicians wanting to keep it for commercial use.

Bosses at DHA Planning in Maidstone – whose past projects include Eclipse Park and Benenden Primary School – believe the plant, which covers about 95 acres, could become home to a “hi-tech community”.

No decision has yet been made about what will happen to the site, with administrators technically still able to sell it to another paper maker to take over the business, although this is unlikely given the number of redundancies made so quickly.

DHA Planning managing director David Hicken said: “It’s an amazing regeneration opportunity. Newsprint is a thing of the past. We have moved to a digital age. A new hi-tech community is what I’d like to see.

“I suggest a few agencies come up with a conceptual masterplan for the site and give them to the council.

"Some people might think some of the ideas are ridiculous but it will get people talking.

"It is always easy to just say it should be commercial land but with a bit of planning and looking ahead, we can come up with something new and better.”

Mark Dance, economic development chief at Kent County Council, favours keeping the site for commercial use.

He said: “We are short of commercial property so a site with such great access to the motorway should be prime commercial land.

“We have got big companies looking at alternative sites so if the administrators don’t find another mill owner, it has to stay as commercial land.”

Locate in Kent chief executive Paul Wookey, whose job is to attract companies to move to the county, said: “We hope there may be interest from another party who will keep the site running as a paper mill and help safeguard as many of the jobs as possible.

“What happens if this is not possible is then uncertain but I hope that employment led uses are a key component of any new proposal.”

However, Nick Fenton, chairman of Kent Developer’s Group, would support some housing.

He said: “While we would prefer for paper-making to continue on the site, we have to recognise that industries do go through periods of upheaval and change and other future uses for the site might have to be considered.

“Given its proximity to the M20 and adjoining industrial estates, combined with demand for housing, there may be a case – if a buyer isn’t found – for mixed-use development.”