Maidstone Borough Council

Freedom of Information Act Request

Ref: FOI 7393 Date: 25 September 2018

Request and Response

I'm interested in documents relating to the regeneration of Week Street and

Gabriel's Hill, as well as an update on what is occurring at Maidstone East station.

I'm also interested in the Public Realm Design Guide and Street Furniture Design Guide listed on the following website.

http://www.maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/business-and-

investment/primary-areas/regeneration/tier-3-additional-areas/public-realm-and-public-art

Clarification:

General planning documents, showing the drawings and plans of what the regeneration will be: maps and drawings and so forth.

The documents themselves are not available to the public, clicking the links takes you to a login page, and it would be appreciated if you could point me

towards the minutes too

Please find attached the following documents which you have requested

regarding designs for the Phase 3 Public Realm:

The consultation documents which show the design intent for Week St and

Gabriel's Hill.

Below is a link to the Public Realm Design Guide and Public Art Policy (it would

appear that we had a ‘glitch’ on our website which prevented people from

accessing the documents – this has now been resolved).

https://www.maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/business-and-

investment/primary-areas/regeneration/tier-3-additional-areas/public-realm-

and-public-art

The Public Realm Design Guide, Street Furniture Guidance and Public Art

Guidance were adopted at Heritage Culture and Leisure committee on 1st Nov

2016 – minutes are here:

https://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=581&MId=2591

&Ver=4

The Public Art Guidance was then presented to Strategic Planning, Sustainability

and Transport Committee to ensure it could be adopted as a material

consideration. This was on 13th Nov 2017 – minutes are here:

https://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=579&MId=2952

&Ver=4

Below is a link to a press release regarding the Maidstone East station site –

which is being led by Network Rail

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/boost-for-kent-rail-passengers-as-

maidstone-east-station-redevelopment-moves-forward/

Maidstone East Station was opened on 1 June 1874

Kent County Council was built in 1824

St. Francis RC Church was built in 1880

Maidstone Prison opened in 1819

Maidstone Rugby Club started in 1880

Brenchley Gardens opened in 1871

St. Faith’s Church opened in 1892

Maidstone United Football Club started in 1897

Chillington Manor House (Now Maidstone Museum) was built in 1562

Maidstone Museum opened in 1858

Iguanodon discovery in 1834

Wove paper was made in 1740

Pargetted facade of 66 Week St. dated back in 1680s

Pargetted facade of 55-57 Week St. dated back in 1680s

Artist William Alexander lived there from 1767-1816

Fremlin Brewery was found in Maidstone in 1790

Hazlitt Theatre opened in 1869

Maidstone was a principle market town in 17th Century

Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice after visiting Maidstone in 1796

Town Hall was built in 1763

Captain Nolan was Riding Master at MaidstoneCavalry Depot between 1841 and1854

Previously Old Bell Inn in 1669

Former Bull Hotel, major medieval inn of Maidstone in 15th Century

Bull Yard, 15th Century ragstone paving

Peugeot Garage from 1937-38

Mill Pond was marked on map in 1748

Golden Boot found in 1790

Battle of Maidstone in 1648

River Len in use between 1629 to1680

Peasant Revolt in 1381

NOTE: The above events will be simplified prior to implementation.

A list of historic events will be shown on the feature historic trail along the site to celebrate the rich historical characteristic in Maidstone.

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Green wall (subject to owners permission) Paving Feature - historic trail Proposed Signage

Drainage featureProposed cycle stands

St. Faith’s Church (1892)

United Reformed Church

Feature facade - Subway (1680)Brenchley Gardens (1871)

Maidstone Museum (1858)

Feature facade - Tiger (1680)

Kent County Council (1824)

Artist William Alexander lived in the area

Proposed street furniture

Paving feature - River Len

New gateway from Maidstone East Station

ILLUSTRATIVE MASTERPLAN

PRECEDENTS

HISTORIC TRAIL

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Hazlitt Theatre (1869)

Victoria Monument & Jubilee Sq (1862)

Peugeot Maidstone (1930s)

Battle of Maidstone (1648)Town Hall (1763)

Peasant Revolt (1381)

River Len (1629-1680)

Golden Boot (1790)

Fremlin Brewery (1861)

Benjamin Disraeli, Prime Minister for Queen Victoria (1837)

Historic trail feature etched with historic events

Central trail connecting the public realm

FEATURE PAVING

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Feature paving etched with Iguanodon footprint

Weave pattern reflected in the paving in squares

Clutter

Dead ends

Vehicle dominance

Underused space

Raised kerbs demarcating vehicle routes

BRENCHLEY GARDENS

PALACE GARDENS

MAIDSTONE EAST

RIVER LEN

WEEK STREET PHASE

GABRIEL’S HILL PHASE

FREMLIN WALK

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

MAIDSTONE MUSEUM

KING STREET

HIGH STREET

FREMLIN WALK

ST. FAITH’S STREET

STATION

ROAD

BREWER STREET

UNION STREET

CHU

RCH STREET

COUNTY ROAD

Brenchley Gardens

St. Faith’s Church

EARL’S STREET

KING STREET

PALACE AVENUE

RIVER LEN

BANK STREET

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MAIDSTONE EAST STATION

WEEK STREET

GABRIEL’S HILL

HIGH STREET

Site boundary

New Squares

Links to key destinations

New gateway linking to new proposal for Station Approach

New gateway to Historical quarter

KEY

Key opportunities include:

• New public squares, linking to surrounding destinations

Kent County Council

Maidstone East Station

Brenchley Gardens and St. Faith’s Church

Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery

Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre

Rose Yard and Hazlitt Theatre

River Len and Mill Pond

Archbishop’s Palace and Peugeot Building

• Reconnection with local context

• A consistent and de-cluttered streetscape

• Reflect Maidstone’s diverse history within the proposals.

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The site offers the opportunity for new interventions that will enhance the public realm experience.

EXISTING SITE CONSTRAINTSSITE LOCATION

EXISTING SITE

OPPORTUNITIES

THE VISION

WEEK STREET - Existing Condition WEEK STREET -Proposed Improvement with enhanced public realm

WEEK STREET ENTRANCE - Existing Condition WEEK STREET ENTRANCE - Proposed Improvement, creating a gatewayEX

ISTI

NG

VISI

ON

THE VISION

EXIS

TIN

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VISI

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WEEK STREET - Existing Condition

FREMLIN SQUARE - Existing Condition

WEEK STREET - Proposed Improvement, an enhanced shopping experience

FREMLIN SQUARE - Proposed Improvement, creating an active square

THE NEXT STEPS

A series of meetings will take place with stakeholders in mid June 2017. A public exhibition will also be set up on site to disclose design intent to general public.

Tender package will be released to identify the proposed contractor

Site preparation work will commence in the first quarter of 2018, starting on Week Street

All construction work on Week Street will be concluded in the last quarter of 2018

GABRIEL’S HILL - Existing Condition GABRIEL’S HILL - Proposed Improvement, creating a focal point to The Mall

THE VISION

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Proposed seating Proposed new signage Proposed cycle stands

Proposed seating to replace existing bollards

Feature paving for Fremlin Walk

Feature paving for Fremlin Walk

Proposed green wall(subject to owner’s permission)

Proposed tree with tree grille and uplight

MAIDSTONE HISTORIC TRAIL

Existing market stalls in Fremlin Square

Shared surface(Restricted vehicle access)

Feature paving to demarcate River Len

Entrance square toThe Mall

Existing light columnsto be retained

Feature paving celebrating the history of Maidstone

Existing treesto be retained

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RIVER LEN

THE MALLROBERT DYAS&

STRAWBERRY MOONS

PADDY POWER

KINGS STREET

LLOYDS BANK

METRO BANKHSBC

MARKS & SPENCER

PRIMARKFREMLIN WALK

MAIDSTONE EAST

BRENCHLEY GARDENS

ST. FAITH’S STREET

BREWER STREET

UNION STREET

HIGH STREETTOWN HALL

PALACE AVENUE

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STATION SQUARE

FREMLIN SQUARE

MALL SQUARE