PLANS for a business park on the edge of Maidstone, which could provide many new jobs, have cleared an important hurdle. Members of Maidstone council's planning committee have given outline permission for the creation of the 2.5-acre park between the Hilton Hotel and the Chiltern Hundreds pub.

The park would specialise in fields such as electronics, communications and engineering. At his latest meeting, borough ouncillors gave the go ahead for applicants Chestergate Estates (Maidstone) to draw up detailed plans for consideration by the council at a later date.

The council has stipulated that 60 per cent of the park's floor space should be given over for industrial use, with the rest used for offices.