insideKENT Magazine Issue 23 - February 2014 | Page 11

NEWS

STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR £85 MILLION
SHOPPING VILLAGE REDEVELOPMENT

Some 73% of people who responded to
consultation about the £85 million redevelopment
of Newnham Court Shopping Village, Maidstone,
are in favour of the ambitious regeneration plans.
Nearly 1,000 people attended an exhibition
to find out about plans to transform the shopping
village, which is home to Notcutts Garden Centre
and a host of other retailers. At the heart of the
scheme are a 6,980m2 Debenhams, a 3,919m2
Waitrose supermarket and a relocated and
enlarged Notcutts.
Many of the people who attended the twoday exhibition completed comment forms and
these show that 73% support the scheme, that
is set to create 1,000 jobs. Asked separately
about the creation of a modern and enlarged
Notcutts, 78% of respondents welcomed the
plan.
The exhibition was part of a comprehensive
consultation program