Work has begun on a new £18m private mental health hospital at Kent Medical Campus near Maidstone following the completion of a new access road.

Developers Cygnet Health Care can now begin building the new 65 bed facility, which is now linked to nearby KIMS Hospital by a route running from Newnham Court Way to the far side of the development site.

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) backed the project in April 2016. Once finished it will form part of the next phase of the Kent Medical Campus which agents JLL hope will become a research hub for medical companies rivalling others in Oxford and Cambridge.

Gary Watson of JLL, said: "The completion of the second spine road opens up the site and will enable us to attract other companies.

The road, and arrival of Cygnet Health Care, are important steps on our journey to creating a home for 4,000 people to work and making Kent Medical Campus a place for forward-thinking businesses in health, science and education.”

Kent Medical Campus will officially become an Enterprise Zone in April 2017, meaning financial incentives will be offered to businesses moving to the site.

Cllr Fran Wilson, leader of MBC, said: “The Kent Medical Campus represents one of Maidstone’s key employment assets.

"With the creation of thousands of highly skilled and well paid jobs over the next 10 years and its status as an Enterprise Zone it will play a vital role in the borough’s Economic Development Strategy.

“Whilst economic growth is undoubtedly important I am particularly pleased that a new state of the art Mental Health facility is being brought to Maidstone which will provide much needed expertise and support to the borough.”

When complete, the 30-acre Kent Medical Campus site will provide 98,000 sq m of accommodation for medical and life-science companies, specialist residential and rehabilitation care, with the aspiration for higher education level training facilities for the medical and healthcare professions.