Maidstone Borough Council has announced work is starting on small green spaces in St Faith’s Street, Brewer Street and Union Street, but drivers and businesses face about six weeks of temporary road closures while construction takes place.
What the council is doing
Residents and workers in central Maidstone will see three new pocket parks — small areas of planting and greenery dropped into built-up streets — created in St Faith’s Street, Brewer Street and Union Street. According to Maidstone Borough Council, the spaces are designed to boost biodiversity and help manage rainwater, which in a town-centre setting means reducing the amount of surface water that runs straight off hard ground into drains during heavy rain.
Why the council says it’s worth it
The council’s case is essentially environmental. More planting in dense urban streets can support insects and birds, improve air quality, and take some pressure off drainage systems. St Faith’s Street already sits close to Brenchley Gardens, one of the council’s managed green spaces in the town centre, so the new parks would add to existing greenery in that part of Maidstone.
But the scheme comes with disruption attached.
The disruption residents should expect
Temporary road closures are planned for around six weeks across the three streets. That’s likely to affect drivers cutting through the town centre, delivery vehicles serving nearby businesses, and anyone who parks in the area. Traders on and around St Faith’s Street, Brewer Street and Union Street may see reduced footfall during the works, and residents should expect to plan alternative routes for the duration.
The council has asked for patience while the work is carried out.
What we don’t yet know
The council’s announcement, posted on its official social media account, does not include the total cost of the scheme, the name of the contractor carrying out the work, or a precise start date. Questions about long-term maintenance costs — who pays to keep three new planted spaces in good condition year after year — have not been addressed in the available information. No independent business group or resident objection has been published alongside the announcement.
Key information
- Three locations affected: St Faith’s Street, Brewer Street and Union Street, central Maidstone
- Road closures: Temporary, lasting about six weeks
- More details: Maidstone Borough Council’s website has further information on the scheme — search for the pocket parks project via the council’s official site
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