A mental health company has revealed plans to build an £18 million hospital, creating 150 jobs.

Cygnet Health Care has submitted a planning application to Maidstone council to build the institution at the Kent Medical Campus near Junction 7 of the M20.

It would sit next to the £95 million private KIMS Hospital already on the campus, which gained outline planning permission in 2014.

Cygnet is the largest outsourcing provider to the NHS of mental health services for patients needing acute and intensive care.

Chief executive David Cole said: “The Kent Medical Campus development would bring significant investment to the area, creating 150 jobs as well as fulfilling an existing and growing demand for mental health services.

“There is a significant shortfall in mental health service provision across the UK, and the proposed hospital at Kent Medical Campus would be a significant step in addressing this for Kent and the South East..." - David Cole, Cygnet Health Care

“Importantly, we aspire to ensure that service users are able to recover safely and effectively, and this process is made easier by being able to access local services.”

Kent Medical Campus is a 30-acre site being turned into a health and research business centre by investment management company Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

Its first phase, KIMS Hospital, was opened by the Duke of Gloucester in 2014 and is home to more than 200 consultants and has 99 patient beds.

The aim for JLL, which is developing the campus, is to eventually create a business park for a variety of medical companies to rival research centres in Oxford and Cambridge, while also providing care to the community.

Mr Cole added: “There is a significant shortfall in mental health service provision across the UK, and the proposed hospital at Kent Medical Campus would be a significant step in addressing this for Kent and the South East, ensuring that local people are able to access services as and when they need them.”