An area of wasteland on the corner of the James Whatman Way and Royal Engineers Road will be home to a multi-million pound cultural attraction.

The Kent Library and History Centre is being developed by Kent County Council's Kent Libraries and Archives (KLA) with its preferred developer, Bouygues UK and West Kent Housing Association. Architects ‘Astudio’ have produced the designs for the new home of one of the biggest county archives in the country which will be combined with a stunning new library in the heart of Maidstone.

A new Community History Room will help widen access to the rich resources the archives has on Kent, its people and its places. It will also provide the hub for a whole digitisation programme which will help make material more accessible, both in other venues and via the internet.

The proposed centre will replace the existing Centre for Kentish Studies in County Hall, East Kent Archives Centre, Maidstone Library on St Faith Street and County Central Library at Springfield.

Chairman Paul Bowden Brown commented: "I am aware of the plans for the Library and History Centre and it will bring another attraction to that end of town, alongside our new stadium, the River Medway and Whatman Park.

View of the Kent Library and History Centre as you turn onto James Whatman Way.

View of the Kent Library and History Centre from the White Rabbit public house.

Aerial photograph showing the site of the new Kent Library and History Centre, our new stadium and the River Medway.