Rumours have been building a town centre shopping mall is to be turned into hundreds of flats in an area already earmarked for scores of homes.

But gossip the Broadway Shopping Centre in Maidstone – the former home of Lidl and Matalan – is to be turned into 200 new homes has been quashed by Maidstone council.

Rumours had circulated online the building would soon be no more, with many of the shops vacant. Many people in the town have voiced concerns about the future of the site.

Linda Janes wrote: "So with the proposed building of flats on the Broadway site as well as the block of flats next to Maidstone West Station, the plot of land that is still up for sale where the golf shop and fireplace shops used to be, the old Trebor site in St Peter's Street and the old Rootes site, which are all around the town centre, I hate to think what the future of Maidstone will be.

"Schools, doctors, NHS dentists, hospitals etcetera. No mention of these buildings – only flats, flats and more flats!

"Maidstone council don’t seem to care – it’s all about the money for them."

Michelle Knell added: "Proposed parking for residents? Doctors? Dentists? Schools? It is OK filling a town with people as long as there are the facilities there.

"Maidstone is already an absolute nightmare for traffic."

Malcolm Luxton defended the local authority, adding: "Why don't people aim their criticisms at the right people? Lack of NHS facilities, schools etc is in the control of KCC and the government, not MBC.

"Until our present MPs, the two Helens, do their job and fight for the people they represent, the situation can only get worse."

The frustration comes after proposals were unveiled to transform the Powerhub building in St Peter's Street into 230 homes and commercial space.

Just weeks before, plans for an 80-flat apartment block were revealed for land opposite the Powerhub.

In 2019, the council was told "think before you build" when plans for a 15-storey block with more than 280 flats were proposed for The Broadway.

Thousands of people signed a petition against the development which would have completely "dominated" the town's skyline.

The Broadway Shopping Centre has been left largely vacant after Matalan shut up shop and moved to The Mall and Lidl moved down the road to a new site shared with Wickes.

Other stores in the mall have sporadically closed in recent months.

The former 30,000 sq ft Matalan unit has been put on the market to let on a "flexible or short-term basis", as well as a former yoga studio and beautician's which are both available each for £10,000 per year.

A Maidstone council spokesman said: “Maidstone Borough Council is not aware of any planning applications or pre-applications for the Broadway Shopping Centre at this time.

“We are aware that the site may need redevelopment at some point in the future and due to the location we appreciate the impact this would have on the area.

"At that point we would work with the landowner to make sure that any new development meets the approval of local residents before beginning any work.”