News Release

New KIG information

Kent International Gateway has submitted a Supplementary Environmental Statement and Supplemental Non-technical Summary of the Environmental Information, and a revised Design and Access Statement.

The scheme’s parameter plans have also changed and the scheme has been amended.

The KIG public inquiry will start on October 13, 2009 and is expected to last about eight weeks.

The latest changes proposed are:

· Floor space on the development will be reduced from 374,000sqm to approx. 300,000sqm

· Units IND01 and IND02 (rail linked warehouses) now comprise approx. 141,000sqm as opposed to 171,000sqm previously

· Building E is now one smaller building at 67,644sqm (its site was previously occupied by two warehouses E & F) which is some 42,363sqm less than the two previous buildings combined.

· The development (Building E) is now shown sited further to the east of the Listed Building at Barty Farm (85m from the listed building compared to 15m) and has retained the woodland known as ‘The Belt’ to the west of Crismill Lane

· The drainage strategy has been amended. The balancing pond system to the south of the new unit E has also been amended

· A green roof and where possible walls have been proposed for the acoustic shield over the railway sidings

· Diverted public footpaths now run within the site along internal access roads in the central part of the site around Unit E northwards to the intermodal area.

· Two lay-bys have been added to isolate vehicles entering the site. (One at each access point)

The appellants have advertised the information and the deadline for any further comments to be received by the Maidstone council is August 7, 2009.

Parties wishing to make comments should write to Steve Clarke, Principal Planning Officer, Maidstone Borough Council, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ, quoting reference number MA/07/2092, or by email to kigcomments@maidstone.gov.uk

All comments will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate and the appellants and will be taken into account along with any previous comments that have already been forwarded by the council.

The documentation is available to view on digitalmaidstone.co.uk and at The Gateway, King Street Maidstone.