The first 119 homes and four commercial units at Fielding Park, the Golding Homes regeneration of the Cambridge Crescent area of Shepway in Maidstone, are complete and the first residents have moved in.
The first phase of Fielding Park, the regeneration of the Cambridge Crescent area of Shepway in Maidstone, is complete, with 119 homes and four commercial units, housing association Golding Homes said.
The first residents have moved in. Golding Homes said the social and affordable rent homes are being offered to people on Maidstone Borough Council’s housing register. The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Brian Clark, officially opened the development, the borough council said on 20 October.
What is being built
The scheme, built by Skillcrown, is being delivered in three phases. When it is finished there will be 236 affordable homes, a mix of flats and houses for social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership, along with a new shopping area and improved green spaces, according to Golding Homes.
The first phase began in 2024. Golding Homes says the houses have private rear gardens and on-plot parking, the flats have their own terrace or balcony, and the development includes electric vehicle charging points and solar panels.
The second phase started in summer 2025, with 57 new homes replacing 40, Golding Homes said in its project updates. In spring 2026 it said rehousing of Northumberland Court residents, ahead of the third phase, was expected to begin in April or May.
The development is named after Gabriel Fielding, the pen name of the author Dr Alan Barnsley, who set up and ran the Shepway medical centre in the 1950s and 1960s.
What people said
Steph Goad, Golding Homes’ chief executive, said: “Seeing the first residents move into Fielding Park is a proud moment for everyone involved.”
Carla Ashford, one of the first residents, said her family had lived in temporary accommodation for several years. “It’s given me back a normal life and we can finally settle, put down roots and grow,” she said.
Cllr Clark said: “Outdated housing has been transformed into modern, stylish and energy efficient homes that will improve the lives of residents for many years to come.”
Shepway councillor Maureen Cleator and Cllr Simon Wales, the borough council’s cabinet member for housing, attended the celebration event, where a time capsule containing artwork by pupils from Five Acre Wood School was sealed and buried on the site.