Developer U+I has secured planning permission to transform unused land in Kent into a new green business community.

Kingstanding, located 3.5 miles from Tunbridge Wells town centre, will comprise flexible, high-quality employment and industrial space to cater for a variety of different businesses. The buildings will be set within a beautiful parkland to create an inspiring place for people to work post-Covid, with sustainability and wellbeing at the forefront of the design.

The scheme, which has been designed by Scott Brownrigg, sits on underused greenbelt land and will centre on a reinvigorated pond, itself surrounded by the ancient woodland of King’s Standing – providing biodiversity net gain and a tranquil environment for employees.

Tunbridge Wells has been losing office and industrial floor space at a rate that exceeds regional averages. Consequently, vacancy levels of both office and industrial space are very low, with the shortfall compounded by limited new development activity.

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In line with the council's economic needs study – which noted the requirement for at least 14ha of additional employment land up to 2033 – Kingstanding will alleviate the shortage in office and distribution space and stimulate economic growth. This will be encouraged further by an allocation in the emerging local plan.

U+I’s proposals will see the delivery of nearly 800,000 sq ft of flexible warehouse and office accommodation on a well connected site. It is easily accessible by car, bus and train, while cycling from Tunbridge Wells town centre will take around 16 minutes.

The new offices will be situated around the perimeter of the site, with new warehousing units concentrated in the north-west corner. Buildings will be positioned adjacent to woodland and other key landscape features to allow the occupiers immediate access to nature and other outdoor amenities.

Richard Upton, Chief Development Officer, U+I, said: "U+I is now a step closer to unlocking the potential in this underused developable land within the greenbelt just outside Tunbridge Wells town centre into a thriving new business destination and community space, with nature and wellbeing at its heart.

"With demand for office and industrial space far outstripping supply, Kingstanding will attract firms from a range of backgrounds to work in a workspace inspired by the outdoors and fit for the modern era. It will also create over 4,000 new jobs in the local community, stimulating economic growth."

The resolution to grant planning consent was made unanimously at a virtual committee on Wednesday 23 September. U+I now has nine weeks to resolve matters relating to the the final highways assessment in order to secure full planning approval.