After eight years plans to develop the former Springfield Library site are finally moving forward.

Demolition at the Sandling Lane plot was due to start earlier this year but was stalled after large amounts of asbestos were found on the facades of the site’s buildings. The material is undisturbed and does not pose a risk.

Outline planning permission for 100 apartments, 14 houses and 47 parking spaces was first granted in 2009 and was renewed five years later but the scheme fell through and the £2.8m plot was sold by Kent County Council to Peker Holdings last July.

Peker is now seeking to amend the planning permission to allow it to build 162 apartments, parking and green space and 500 sq m of community facilities, set to include a doctors surgery and nursery. The development will be known as Tennyson Gardens.

The land, which is home to a number of single and two storey buildings and a 13-storey tower block which is not safe for public occupation, will have to be razed before work can commence.

Niyazi Albay, CEO of Peker, said: “We are excited to share our initial plans with members of the public. We believe the new proposals are an improvement on the previous scheme which would have provided no affordable housing or community facilities. Barron Edwards Planning and Gradon Architecture have been working on preparing this scheme with an emphasis on the need for sustainable development and delivering quality homes.

“Our proposed development would create much-needed new accommodation in the area as well as new community facilities. Residents have expressed the need for a surgery and child care facilities and while MBC would ultimately decide how this space is used, we would work closely with the authorities to ensure an appropriate use or uses are included within our scheme.

“I would like to stress nothing has been set in stone at this stage and the feedback and input we receive at the consultation will be used to refine our proposals ahead of any submission for planning permission.”

The consultation event will take place at St Faith’s Hall, Moncktons Lane, Ringlestone, next Thursday, July 20.

Members of the development team will be on hand from 3pm to 7pm to discuss the initial plans and answer any questions, while inquiries can also be sent to springfield@cfa-group.com

Neighbouring development

Tennyson Gardens will be built next to the controversial 310-home Springfield Mill development, which was granted approval in February.

Apartments at the Royal Engineers Road site will be split between two buildings, one of 18 floors and another comprising four linked blocks, ranging from eight to 11 storeys.

The former would become the tallest building in Maidstone.

While the land had been earmarked for high-density development in the borough’s emerging Local Plan the height of the structure has drawn criticism, with one resident describing it as “obscenely tall” and adding it was likely to become a “towering eyesore.”

In addition the Development Securities proposal includes 187 parking places — one each for the 90-flat private block and 97 for the remaining 220 homes, which will be managed by one landlord. There will also be 310 cycle places.

The council’s major developments officer Tim Chapman said: “In visual terms, the proposal is likely to make a positive contribution and an attractive gateway to Maidstone.”

Conditions will need the developer to contribute nearly £300,000 for the new Free School of Science and Technology planned for Valley Park, St Faith’s Adult Education Centre and the Kent History and Library Centre among others.