A new business park at Woodcut Farm, off the Ashford Road in Hollingbourne is about to draw a step closer.

Outline planning permission for the development was granted in 2018, and after a change of owners from Roxhill Developments to Maidstone Investment Holding Limited (MIHL) in June, a new "masterplan" was drawn up for the site and approved by Maidstone council.

Now the company is submitting an application to cover the matters "reserved" in the outline application.

It sets out details for the layout and appearance for the first phase of development.

It seeks to build commercial units with footprint sizes ranging from circa 440sqm to 4,950sqm, targeting "small to medium businesses."

There will be extensive planting of native woodland, new ponds and the prominent use of local materials such as ragstone on walls and feature points throughout the site.

The larger buildings will be equipped with photovoltaic panels, while there will be "greenroofs" on the smaller ones.

The owners estimate that once the park is fully occupied it will create between 725 and 1,250 jobs.

Alongside the main application, a second application has been submitted that seeks to adjust the size and height of the buildings to enable some mid-size (1,400 -2,800 sqm) buildings.

A spokesman said: "This will bridge the gap between the smaller and larger units currently permitted, thereby diversifying the options available to the market, but also enabling successful smaller businesses to stay and grow their business on-site, rather than being forced to relocate elsewhere."

Nick Berry, the site's development manager, said: "We are delighted that our masterplan has been approved and that we can now bring forward these planning applications for consideration.

"A significant level of engagement has taken place over recent months with the borough council and local representatives on how we can best deliver the site and the associated economic benefits.

"We look forward to continuing to work with all interested parties to bring forward a first class, sustainable employment location for the borough.”

Applications 20/505182 and 20/505195 refer

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