£3m scheme to give high street new lease of life
Neglected parts of Maidstone town centre are to finally get a much-needed overhaul after councillors agreed to more than £3 million investment.
Long- overlooked Gabriel’s Hill and Week Street are expected to be given a new lease of life.
The authority has agreed to tender a contract to revamp areas from Maidstone East Station to Fremlin Walk and the length of Gabriel’s Hill to Lower Stone Street.
Earl Street is not among any scheduled redevelopment plans.
In early 2013, Maidstone Borough Council completed the second phase of its £3.5m high street regeneration project, which saw the creation of Jubilee Square and Remembrance Square, as well as putting in new seating and granite paving.
Work had started in the upper part of the high street in late 2012 before it was extended to run the entire length.
Kent County Council contributed £600,000 to the first two stages but no funds will be forthcoming from the authority to help pay for this latest phase.
Like previous projects, councillors hope the new raft of investment will help reduce the number of empty shops and increase footfall.
It is also hoped the funds will give a boost to the high street which has seen its popularity slip in national ratings.
According to the National Retail Hierarchy, which ranks shopping centres, Maidstone was ranked 52nd nationally, down 20 places from 33rd in 2007 when Fremlin Walk opened.
The changes will tie in to works to improve Maidstone East Station being carried out by Network Rail and McDonald’s in Week Street, which is also set to be refurbished.
The full sum of the new work includes the cost of hiring the design team and applying for Heritage Lottery Funding.
A contractor is expected to be appointed in six months and the final decision on the design brief will be made by the director of regeneration and place.