A major business district for Tunbridge Wells, which promises to generate thousands of jobs in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), has been given planning permission.

The Kingstanding site on the edge of town will see 30 acres of green belt land redeveloped.

Planning consent from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council comes after the Secretary of State confirmed he did not wish to call in the application.

It is hoped the scheme, sited between the existing Kingstanding Industrial Estate and the A21 on the outskirts of the town, will go towards addressing the shortfall of office and industrial space in the area.

The project is being driven forward by developer U+I.

It had been told in September planning would be granted but it needed to resolve highways issues and was subject to Whitehall approval. All conditions have now been met.

The scheme, which has been designed by Scott Brownrigg, sits on green belt land within an AONB and will centre on a "reinvigorated" historic pond, itself surrounded by the ancient woodland of King’s Standing - which lends the site its name.

U+I says Tunbridge Wells has been losing warehouse and office floor space at a rate that exceeds regional averages.

It says it expects the scheme will attract approximately £225m of new inward investment and provide up to 4,000 jobs on site; up to 1,000 local jobs indirectly through increased local support functions to the site, and 520 construction and supply jobs over an eight-year period.

The proposals will see the delivery of nearly 800,000 sq ft of flexible warehouse and office accommodation.

Richard Upton, chief executive officer of U+I, said: “This decision represents a significant step forward in unlocking the potential of this unused greenbelt land to create a thriving new business destination.

“Much needed industrial and office space will serve local and national businesses, all the while generating thousands of jobs and stimulating economic growth, delivering real value to the local people of Tunbridge Wells.”

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