Shoppers and residents get their first sight of blueprint for town centre

1:00pm Saturday 6th September 2008

Shoppers and residents can get their first look at the blueprint for the future of Kingston town this week.

The K+20 Kingston Town Centre Area Action Plan, which was formally adopted by Kingston Council in July and will guide the future development of the town centre up to 2020, has been made public.

Earlier this year an independent planning inspector gave the K+20 Plan the go-ahead, but threw out the option of increasing the number of car parking spaces - currently 7,000.

It is the first Area Action Plan in London to get the go-ahead.

The blueprint includes proposals for major new shopping facilities, new homes and jobs, better quality offices, a hotel, and better facilities for culture, leisure and entertainment, as well as for religious, community and voluntary groups.

It also plans for improved environment and improved transport, including a new bus station, new cycle routes, improved pedestrian links and car parking. Talks are currently taking place to choose a developer to redevelop the Eden Quarter of the town, after the council's initial partner Hammerson was forced to walk away over European rules on contract tendering.

The K+20 Plan and inspector’s report are available on the Council’s website at www.kingston.gov.uk/kplus20, at public libraries and at the Guildhall.