Maidstone Borough Council has agreed to begin the process of seeking an Article 4 Direction that would give it greater oversight of future proposals affecting some of the town centre's largest office buildings.
If approved by Government, the proposed direction would remove permitted development rights that currently allow office buildings of more than 1,500 square metres to be converted to residential use without the need for a planning application.
The move forms part of the council's wider work to support a vibrant and sustainable town centre, balancing the need for new, quality homes which support residents' wellbeing, while retaining employment space and maintaining a mixed-use economy that contributes positively to local communities.
The council commissioned an independent evidence base to assess whether an Article 4 Direction could be justified under national planning policy. The evidence identified a link between rising levels of deprivation and concentrations of office-to-residential conversions in parts of the town centre, alongside concerns about housing quality. These findings formed part of the evidence supporting the council's decision to pursue an Article 4 Direction.
Five large office buildings were identified within Maidstone town centre that meet the proposed threshold for inclusion within the direction. These buildings include:
- Invicta House
- Medway Bridge House – Fairmeadow
- Meadow House – Medway Street
- Biz Space – Kestrel House and Knightrider House
- County Gate One and Two – Stacey’s Street
The proposed direction would not prevent office-to-residential conversions from coming forward. Instead, it would ensure that significant proposals are subject to planning scrutiny and can be assessed against local and national planning policies before a decision is made.
Councillor Tony Harwood, Maidstone Borough Council Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Management, said:
"This proposal would enable future changes affecting some of the town centre's largest office buildings to be properly considered through the planning process.
“It is vital that the county town of Kent retains its administrative, business and commercial heart and that future office-to-residential conversions meet standards that supports residents' wellbeing and contribute towards the infrastructure that local families need.”
The council will now begin the statutory process required to seek an Article 4 Direction, including public notification and the opportunity for representations to be submitted and considered. The Government will review the proposal and has the power to modify or cancel a direction if there is insufficient evidence to support it.
If approved, any future proposals affecting buildings covered by the direction would continue to be considered on their individual merits through the planning process.