insideKENT Magazine Issue 25 - April 2014 | Page 157

PROPERTY

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Live the dream
Many of us dream of living in a friendly community set in beautiful surroundings with good rail and
road communications and within walking distance of top class schools and shops. Well, that dream
is a reality in Kings Hill, which is just outside the picturesque Kentish village of West Malling.

Set in 800 acres of landscaped parkland, Kings
Hill is a new, lively community carefully designed
to reflect a traditional English village but with all
the conveniences of a larger town. It has a wide
variety of shops – including Waitrose – restaurants,
cafés and a pub within walking distance as well
as two primary schools, medical centre, veterinary
surgery, sports amenities and golf course.
Kings Hill’s architecture is inspired by a
variety of influences just as in a traditional village
that would have evolved over hundreds of years.
Homes range from pretty weather-boarded
cottages and impressive family homes overlooking
the golf course to contemporary airy apartments
and cosy squares and terraces. This means there
is a property style and size to suit all needs and
budgets – from families and young professionals
to downsizers and first-time buyers.
Quality of life is key and its attractive
environment is fundamental to Kings Hill’s success
– and what makes it one of the most aspirational
places to live in the area. Acres of open space
and woodland surrounding the houses are crisscrossed by cycle and footpaths and the whole
development is lovingly maintained by professional
landscapers who have planted swathes of
wildflowers as well as shrubs and trees.
It is a vibrant community with plenty of
places for residents to meet each other. There
is a very successful football club, a cricket pitch,
sports park, golf course, a David Lloyd Leisure
Centre and a 24-hour gym. There are many
groups and societies and the community centre

has a packed programme of classes and events.
From time to time special events are
organised at Kings Hill – most recently a series
of summer concerts in aid of Kent’s Demelza
Hospice and the Children’s Development Trust.
Kings Hill families and staff from the business
park brought picnics, deck chairs and rugs to
stake their claim in front of the open-air stage on
which stars, including Jools Holland and McFly,
performed. There is also an annual children’s
football tournament, regular golf events and
cricket matches during the summer.
Kings Hill is also true to its heritage – the
land was once West Malling Airfield, a World War
II night-fighter station where Guy Gibson of
Dambusters fame was based. Throughout the
development there are reminders of its past,
including the Art Deco control tower- which is
currently being meticulously restored and will
house a Costa coffee and cultural centre for the
community as well as offices, and numerous
public artworks.
Community pride in this heritage is very
strong and last year residents joined together to
commemorate the 70th anniversary of the
Dambusters raid. The celebrations were also
attended by veterans, senior military personnel
and civic dignitaries and the highlight of the day
was a flypast by a Spitfire.
The residential areas are adjacent to the
flagship Kings Hill business park where tenants
include blue chip multi-nationals, financial and
tech companies and many smaller enterprises,

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providing a rich source of employment for those
living at Kings Hill – and a very short journey to
work. Indeed, more than 200 companies are
based there providing jobs for about 5,000 staff.
Kings Hill is a true community with its own
parish council and established community groups
that meet in the community centre. It is a
successful and growing community which
masterplanning developer Liberty Property Trust
continues to invest in.
Liberty’s long-term commitment to Kings
Hill is part of what enables it to provide and fund
additional community facilities for the benefit of
residents.
The latest development of homes is just
being launched, marketed by Kings Hill New
Homes – a forum which includes Liberty,
development partner Kent County Council and
house builders involved in the development,
currently Bellway, Hillreed and Crest Nicholson.
Hillreed is launching its 15th site at Kings Hill in
the spring; Bellway Homes launched the first
phase of its ‘Signature’ development in February;
and Crest Nicholson will launch its new
development, Woodland Place, a collection of
2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses in late spring.
For more information visit www.kings-hill.com
and watch the video ‘A day in the life of Kings
Hill’ which shows how for many the dream
has come true.