As supermarket giant Lidl prepares to move out of a “forgotten” arcade in the middle of a town centre, fears are growing for its future.

Reporter Cara Simmonds asks 'what's next?' following a visit to Maidstone’s Broadway Shopping Centre...

It feels like a ghost town as I enter The Broadway.

German discount chain Lidl is yet to leave the Maidstone shopping arcade, over the bridge from the town's main drag, but it already feels eerily empty.

The building feels like something straight out of the 70s and the outdated cream and brown tiles and glass-domed ceiling inside the centre make it feel trapped in the past.

The large unit that used to be home to Matalan, and once brought in a flurry of customers, now has its metal shutters down, with Lidl the only last big brand name standing.

Even the supermarket doesn't seem to pull reams of people in, as I rarely saw another person on my visit.

Construction has now started on the new Lidl store, next to DIY retailer Wickes, just 500 yards down the road in St Peter’s Street and is due to open this winter.

When the plans were initially approved, Lidl spokesman Adam Forsdick told councillors the existing store in The Broadway did not provide “the most modern customer experience”.

The announcement raises questions over the future of the once-busy shopping centre.

Lidl is the third store to move out of the building, with shopping retailer Matalan re-locating to The Mall in September 2020.

Back in 2006, the centre was home to Profiles for Women gym.

Employees came into work to find the gym had suddenly closed down and were forced to say goodbye to customers via a poster taped to the doors.

It seems like history has repeated itself, as franchise Tru Gym – which occupied the same unit where Profiles once was – also permanently shut unexpectedly in May this year.

Other units closed included one occupied by ibodi, an aesthetic clinic, and The Maidstone Yoga Centre which has relocated to Gabriels Hill.

The centre does have a number of small businesses on the ground-floor level: including a tanning shop, electrical retailer Euronics, hairdressers and a kitchen store.

A hairdresser from Carpenters Hair says that the big name stores do bring in customers. She said: “Lidl has lots of good deals, which does make the area busier.

“We have loads of regulars who come in – it appeals to them as they have free parking, unlike in the centre of town.

“Some of our older clients love the fact they can either get dropped off in the car park or come from the bus stop nearby.

“Many of them don’t want to go into town and prefer that we are located here.”

She added: “We do get walk-ins, usually people have had a tan from the sunbeds and then come to us to get their hair done.

“I definitely think it will change once Lidl has gone.

"The shopping centre has changed so much I can’t keep track.”

Emma, a designer from Appliance Superstore, said: “I’m from Gravesend, so from an outsider's perspective, this area is the quieter part of Maidstone.

“The high street - with the escape room - feels hip and cool.

"Whereas over here in this part of town it feels forgotten and derelict. It is quite sad.”

Even before the big name retailers began to move out, planning officers at Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) suggested turning the site into housing.

'Over here in this part of town it feels forgotten and derelict. It is quite sad.'

In 2019 plans were put forward for the site to be turned into 281 flats, with a towering 15-storey tower block being built there.

Nearly 5,000 protestors signed an online petition to stop the development and it was rejected by councillors in November that year.

So what now?

Cllr Paul Cooper, lead member for planning and infrastructure at the council said: “We are not aware of any planning applications or pre-applications for the Lidl in the Broadway Shopping Centre at this time.

“Therefore, 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.”

For now, the future of the building remains uncertain.