A long-established bookshop could be making way for a new Japanese restaurant in Maidstone town centre.
An application for a wagamama eatery to be opened on the site currently home to Waterstone’s in Earl Street , Maidstone, has been made to Maidstone council.
Agents Advoco Planning Limited, of Alresford, Hampshire, have applied for a change of use so that they can establish a 90-cover restaurant, employing 32 staff.

The application also specifies that the Waterstone’s branch is due to close, adding: “Waterstones vacation of the unit is a binding commitment, which is not prompted by this planning application."

It also says that many wagamama customers tend to have only main meals, but the projected number of customers would be around 120 an hour at peak times.
The documents said the company would help to attract people to the town centre.
“In short, wagamama are highly selective in locations in which they choose to operate and therefore have a degree of exclusivity which adds to their attraction.
“The upshot of this is that their restaurants are destinations in their own right."

No date has yet been decided for the application to be debated by Maidstone council’s planning committee.