A ground-breaking ceremony to mark the official start of building of the Maidstone Innovation Centre has taken place.

The site is located within the Kent Medical Campus, just off Junction 7 of the M20.

Once completed it will provide 30,000sq foot of usable workspace and is expected to support around 270 jobs generating £120million for the economy over the next decade.

The complex, which is due to be completed by the summer of 2021, will provide space for SMEs in the life science, healthcare and med-tech sectors.

The breaking ground event was assisted by Maidstone Borough Council leader Cllr Martin Cox, along with Mark Mitchener, managing director of Rydon Construction which was selected as the partner for the development in 2019.

Cllr Cox said: “This signifies a milestone for this exciting project in Maidstone. This outstanding building has taken just two years from the planning stage to where we are today. The Innovation Centre will encourage more people to start their med-tech businesses in Maidstone, the business capital of Kent.”

Mark Mitchener added: "We look forward to continuing our work with Maidstone Borough Council to ensure the scheme is an asset we can all be proud of.”

The site is part of the North Kent Enterprise Zone, with the centre part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2014-20 and has previously received funding from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Maidstone Borough Council is reinvesting over £5.2m in recovered business rates from the enterprise zone into the building.

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