A hospice which was opened by Princess Diana more than 30 years ago could be on the move.

For the first time in its 32-year history, the Heart of Kent Hospice – which is currently based in Aylesford – is now caring for more than 1,000 people across all its services and it is feeling the squeeze.

It wants to move to purpose-built premises which would be part of a care park being devised for land next to and behind the Greensand Medical Centre off Heath Road, between Linton and Coxheath near Maidstone.

If approved, it would also include a care home, up to 70 affordable bungalows for the over 70s, and 14 assisted living homes for young adults.

Rachel Street, the chief executive of the hospice, said: “We were delighted to have been offered the opportunity to share the site at Linton.

“The building we have in mind will enable us to offer a small increase in our residential care from 10 beds to 12, but it will principally allow us to expand our hospice hub, where we offer people access to clinical support, welfare services, complementary therapies, spiritual support and counselling.

“Our current building was purpose-built in 1991, but since then the design of hospices has moved on.

“Our building has been added to, tweaked and changed over the years, which is not ideal, and really no longer offers the space that we need.”

Mrs Street said: “We run a monthly dementia cafe where we regularly have 80 visitors, and once over 100. It’s getting to the stage where we will have to say we can’t take any more.

“Sadly, with an ageing population, the number of people who need our services is only ever likely to grow.

“We are already the support for 266,000 people over our 26 sq mile base that is Maidstone and Malling, and recently we broke a record, providing services to 1,000 people – though not necessarily all on a daily basis.

“We are determined to be here to meet the rising demand for palliative and end-of-life care and the new building will help us with that.”

The hospice has already emailed its 15,000 registered supporters with details of its plans and carried out a leaflet drop in the area of the proposed new building.

Mrs Street said: “The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It does mean that eventually we will have to close our current hospice and we were nervous that some people who have treasured memories of the place and the care their loved ones received there might resent that, but we haven't received a single such comment.

“People sometimes think that a hospice must be a sad place. That is not the case at all.

“It is about life and joy and we will be better able to provide that in our light and airy new accommodation.”

The hospice employs 160 staff including the sales staff at its 14 charity shops. It is supported by a legion of 550 volunteers.

Mrs Street said: “We are at a very early stage – only an outline planning application has been submitted, with detailed designs still being finalised.

“To be honest, we don’t have much idea of how much it will cost yet – construction prices are changing so much, it is hard to estimate.

“We are looking first to establish the principle of the new hospice at the site with Maidstone council, then we will draw up detailed plans and a fundraising schedule.

“Our present building will stay open and will continue to care for people there until we are ready to move into the new building.”

Heart of Kent Hospice first opened its doors in 1991 after local people set up the Wishing Well Appeal to raise £1.3m to build it.

It was officially opened by HRH Diana Princess of Wales in October 1992.

In the meantime, the hospice still needs to raise £5m a year to provide its current level of support, and hopes the public will continue to fund its services.

Next year’s big fundraising event will be a Shaun The Sheep Art Trail to rival the popular Elmer Heart of Kent Trail of two years ago.

To donate to the hospice visit here.

If you have any questions about the proposed move, you can email Mrs Street at futurehospice@hokh.co.uk

The hospice is only one of four elements being planned for the care campus in a scheme being coordinated by DHA planning.

The other elements include a 73-bed care home for Aspire; up to 70 affordable bungalows for the over 70s, and 14 units of assisted living homes for young adults.

Details of the application can be viewed here.

Look for application number 23/505091