Plans have been revealed to transform a Grade II-listed building in the middle of a town centre.

Developers Baltic Wharf have published ambitious proposals to build 230 homes on the Powerhub site in St Peter’s Street, Maidstone.

A public consultation held in the building this week gave the opportunity for people and local residents to express their views and examine the ideas.

The site has already been deemed suitable for a mix of uses, including housing, offices, cafés, restaurants and retail.

New CGI images show the redevelopment and partial demolition of the Powerhub – with 21 houses and 209 apartments proposed to be built, as well as 174 parking spaces.

The ground floor would be used for commercial use and the other three floors converted for residential accommodation, should the idea get permission.

Raglan House, to the left of the Powerhub, as well as the existing sheds units to the right, could also be demolished and rebuilt as homes.

Baltic Wharf, part of Aylesford-based developers Terance Butler Holdings (TBH), aim to submit a "hybrid planning and listed building application" to the council in November.

They also have undertaken pre-application discussions with Maidstone Borough Council, Kent County Council and Historic England over the past year.

Between winter 2022 and spring 2023, TBH aim to find out whether the application is likely to be approved or not.

A number of independent companies who currently operate on-site are already worried about their future, with one saying she will be out of business and a job if forced to leave.

Speaking at the consultation Robert Woods, founder of The Climbing Experience – which is located in one of the shed units to the right of the building – commented: "Clearly they have put a lot of work into the scheme and what it might look like.

"I guess it is part of the process and we should be grateful to them for organising this public consultation.

"The big question for me is the timescales – essentially we would have to make arrangements and it's very uncertain.

"It could be as little as 18 months, two years, or longer. Much of that depends on the planning process."

People who KentOnline spoke to at the event wanted the site to be preserved and used for something – but unsure what exactly.

They believe it will attract more people from other areas, including London, to the town centre, which will in turn make it busier.

Residents who live in Buckland Hill expressed their worries over the number of flats that are planned to be built, the height of the building and the volume of traffic.

One claimed that traffic had massively increased over recent years, saying that Buckland Road leading to Waterside Gate and St Peter's Street had become "dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians".

Cllr Stuart Jeffery (Green) said: "There's quite a deep concern from residents about traffic – the developers seem to think the plans will reduce this – it's very difficult to know who is right in that respect.

"I think generally people want something done with the building, because it is iconic, and they don't want to see it fall down.

"I'm personally quite worried about the lack of affordable housing and parking being proposed.

"If the plans go ahead, I would like the owners to properly support the businesses here, a lot of them will struggle to move, I really do feel for them."

In the proposals, TBH plan to improve the junction of Buckland Hill with London Road – one of the main routes into the town centre.

They also will provide extra bus stops along St Peter's Street.

James Lehane, senior transport planner for DHA, said: "The existing use of the site has the ability to generate a certain amount of traffic, a large amount being a mix of workplace and leisure uses.

"The net impact on traffic on the road is going be a reduction, not an increase.

"That said we are also looking as best we can to provide improvements to sustainable transport, in terms of the bus provision along the road and if possible, connections into the rail stations.

"We are also proposing to improve the riverside footway connection, to give a better route towards the park and into town."

Hamish Buttle, principal planner for TBH, added: "We are trying to engage with the public, councillors and Historic England.

"We are looking to bring the optimum and viable use back, and reinstate a building as part of the development which is supported in the emerging Local Plan."

People wishing to submit comments on the proposals can do via the online form on TBH's website.

They can also email info@tbholdings.com or call 01622812285.