A housing provider is hopeful work on its multi-million pound regeneration scheme will be underway next year.

Earlier this year Golding Homes announced a redevelopment package for Shepway, in Maidstone, which would see 114 apartments knocked down in place of 240 new homes, a modern shopping area and communal area.

Residents were invited to share their views on the on the plans in the form of a consultation between May 12 and June 6.

Of the 74 people who completed the survey, 86.5% felt the area needed investment and were in favour of the upgrades.

Only 49 of those came from the 114 homes and 15 shops directly impacted. The rest came from surrounding streets.

The main concerns people felt needed addressing related to lighting, misuse of open space, antisocial behaviour and a lack of surveillance.

Golding Homes director of development and sales Tom Casey revealed the company is hoping to submit an planning application for the plans in the New Year.

He said: "Since the consultation with local people and businesses, we’ve been working with our architects, to take on board the feedback and use it to shape plans for modernising Shepway.

"We’re committed to delivering quality, energy efficient homes, a modern shopping area and improving the public spaces and landscaping in the Cambridge Crescent area.

"We’re working to submit our planning application by early New Year and if granted, we will aim to start construction work late next year. We’ll continue to consult and update our customers in the coming months.

"We’re working closely with the local community and are a key partner in the Maidstone Task Force. We’re pleased that our local Shepway Hub Office is proving popular, providing an easy to access base for a range of vital services and support.”

The revamp hopes to tackle antisocial behaviour while upgrading facilities in Northumberland Road and Cambridge Crescent, some of which date back to the 1950s.

Figures from the Maidstone Task Force revealed how in the last year more than 175 arrests were made, as well as 350 stop searches.

It also seized around £56,800 since last October during warrants which saw a number of high value items, including designer clothing, watches and jewellery recovered.

The team also retrieved more than 50 vehicles and Class A and B drugs to the value of £15,000.