by David Jones

djones@thekmgroup.co.uk

Upmarket grocer Waitrose is to create around 50 jobs when it opens a new store at Kings Hill, West Malling, later this year.

The 9,000 sq ft store will be in Liberty Square on the wartime RAF airfield, which is now home to about 6,500 residents and more than 100 businesses employing some 5,000 people.

The new store, scheduled to open in time for Christmas, will be next to the former RAF control tower, now a listed building. It has been designed in art deco-style to reflect the iconic architecture of the tower.

A Waitrose spokesman said staff for the new store would be recruited locally through the company's website, www.waitrosejobs.com . All new employees will become Partners in the John Lewis Partnership and have a say in how the company is run.

Waitrose area manager James Dean said: "I believe this investment will benefit the community in a number of ways, not only through the creation of jobs but also through schemes such as our Community Matters initiative which will donate £500 between three local good causes every month.

"We are really looking forward to the new store opening at the end of this year."

Shoppers will be able to use new car parks in Liberty Square ,which will provide an additional 170 spaces.

"We are delighted to have such a prestigious and well-respected brand coming to Kings Hill," said Andrew Blevins, managing director of Liberty Property Trust UK, which is developing Kings Hill together with Kent County Council.

"It is part of the second phase of the development of Liberty Square which will see a total 20,000 sq ft of new retail space.

"Other plans for this phase include the restoration of the iconic control tower, landscaping with plenty of open space for relaxation and new housing.

"We have consulted extensively to find out exactly what amenities people want to see at Kings Hill and it is one of the few mixed-use communities with such a good selection of retail outlets."

The project is being developed for Waitrose by Tunbridge Wells-based Decimus Commercial Ltd.

• The Kings Hill development is set in 800 acres and is two miles from junction 4 of the M20. Amenities include an 18-hole golf course, cricket pitch, David Lloyd leisure centre, further recreation and sports amenities, schools and a village centre with shops, restaurants and cafes as well as a surgery, vets and opticians.