Shoppers, visitors and workers in the county town will benefit from a new 250-space car park from tomorrow (Thursday), following the acquisition of the former Royal Mail site near Maidstone East rail station by KCC and Maidstone Borough Council.
One hundred of those spaces in the Sandling Road car park are in the “under croft” and will be reserved for permit holders from Monday to Friday, but these will be also available to the public at weekends.
Meanwhile, Demelza Hospice Care for Children, the charity which provides specialist care to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and support to their families in East Sussex, Kent and South East London, has signed a contract to take over a 26,000 sq. ft. building to act as its main retail warehouse and distribution centre.
The charity will vacate its Sittingbourne warehouse and customers and supporters will be able to drop donations off or buy items for sale, parking in specific loading car spaces close to the building, from later this summer.
The two councils have agreed a brief for the master-planning of the whole Maidstone East project area, and consultants have expressed an interest in formulating detailed plans. The contract is expected to be awarded in August.
The former Royal Mail site is located next to Maidstone East railway station and commuter car park, both of which are owned by Network Rail, and Cantium House, an office building owned by KCC.
Together these sites form part of a strategic gateway into the town totalling about10.5 acres.
The refurbished Sandling Road car park, offering both indoor and outdoor spaces and good CCTV coverage, will be open from 5am to midnight and managed by MBC Parking Services on behalf of the partnership.
Charges, which can be paid by phone, credit card or cash, will be: £1.10 for one hour; £2.20 for three hours; £3.50 for four hours; and £6 for more than four hours.
The former Royal Mail office building (pictured), totalling just under 10,000 sq. feet across three floors, is being marketed at the moment and will be ready for occupation by new tenants from this summer.
Details are available from Vaughan Hughes at the agents Caxtons on 07791 666629. www.caxtons.com