The artwork, titled ‘Slices of Peace’, is the creation of renowned British-Nigerian artist and designer, Yinka Ilori MBE and has been installed in the community’s latest public open space, Orchard Park.

‘Slices of Peace’ is the culmination of Ilori’s tenure as Kings Hill’s Artist in Residence. A multi-sensory piece of work, it comprises one giant apple, flanked by two smaller apples as well as a soundtrack by sound artist Peter Adjaye. It was developed in conjunction with staff from Turner Contemporary, students and alumni from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) – a collective known as AtelierUCA, and Kings Hill residents, who took part in a series of community workshops.

The opening event on Friday, 12 April gave the Kings Hill community the opportunity to meet the two artists as well as representatives of the organisations that partnered on the project. In addition to the artwork, attendees were able to view an exhibition by UCA students in the Kings Hill Control Tower Gallery.

Yinka Ilori said: “Bringing people and communities together is something I am passionate about and aspire to do through all of my work, which is why I am excited to bring ‘Slices of Peace’ to Kings Hill,”

“This installation is inspired by the rich culture and heritage of Kent, in particular its history of apple growing. Community is at the heart of this installation, and I hope it brings a ‘slice of peace’ to those visiting, offering them a place to wander, reflect, and meditate within the park.”

The apples – made from laser cut, powder coated steel – were constructed off site by Firecracker Works and anchored onto concrete plinths. The larger apple is more than 5m in diameter to accommodate people inside it, and the smaller apples are 700mm in diameter. ‘Slices of Peace’ will be the final significant public art commission to be installed in Kings Hill.

Andrew Blevins, of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust, said: “This sculpture is the culmination of a 30-year development project between us and Kent County Council to transform an 800 acre brownfield site – the former RAF West Malling airfield – into the vibrant Kings Hill we have today.

“Public art has been central to our philosophy right from the beginning, helping to forge an identity for the evolving community and instilling a sense of pride in the area. As Kings Hill nears completion, ‘Slices of Peace’ helps represent all that has been achieved and the vision of the people who originally conceived of this community.”

The sculpture was designed to be site-specific to Orchard Park, which also conserves a rare national monument – a Pickett Hamilton fort from WWII – and features a Kentish ragstone amphitheatre for outdoor performances. 

Turner Contemporary curated the project, drawing on its experience of leading major commissions and public art projects. 

Sarah Martin, Head of Exhibitions, said: “It was wonderful to work alongside an artist as passionate and talented as Ilori, who brings such colour, energy, and enthusiasm to his practice.

“The three individual apple-shaped structures that form the sculpture reflect Kent’s rich culture and heritage, and the county’s history of apple growing. ‘Slices of Peace’ represents a space for community celebration and an area for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to create new memories and share in new experiences. The installation aims to promote wellbeing, inspire a sense of belonging, and celebrate joy and positivity.”

The Control Tower Gallery exhibition produced by the UCA students contains a selection of key artefacts representing the work that has gone into the artwork’s creation. Open to the public until Friday, 19 April, it includes a site model of Orchard Park and the artwork, the textile resulting from the community stitching workshop, a timeline of key photographs and drawings from across the project, and a video of an interview with Yinka Ilori. The exhibition gives an insight into the overall development of the installation and can be viewed by contacting cbinns@prologis.com.

UCA’s Assistant Vice Chancellor, Professor Terry Perk, said: “The project involved our students and alumni in a variety of tasks, supporting the development and delivery of the commission. As well as curating the accompanying exhibition, their role included assisting with the community workshops that helped inform the artwork and working with Ilori to produce a site model in his studio.

“Working with an artist of his stature provided them with an opportunity to explore new ideas and learn new skills for supporting their studies, future practices, and their eventual careers.”

Liberty partnered with Kent County Council on the project and appointed placemaking and public art commissioning agency Futurecity to oversee it.

For more information on Slices of Peace, visit www.kings-hill.com/apple.

Named ‘Slices of Peace’, the artwork consists of a giant multicoloured apple, flanked by two smaller apples, and was commissioned from British-Nigerian multi-disciplinary artist and designer Yinka Ilori, MBE, who was appointed as Artist in Residence in Kings Hill in 2021.

The artwork is being installed in Orchard Park, Kings Hill’s new public park, and will serve as a meeting point for the community. 

“Bringing people and communities together is something I am passionate about and aspire to do through all of my work, which is why I am excited to bring ‘Slices of Peace’ to Kings Hill,” said Yinka Ilori. 

“This installation is inspired by the rich culture and heritage of Kent, in particular its history of apple growing. Community is at the heart of this installation, and I hope it brings a ‘slice of peace’ to those visiting, offering them a place to wander, reflect, and meditate within the park.”

The apples – made from laser cut, powder coated steel – have been constructed off site by Firecracker Works and will be anchored onto concrete plinths. The larger apple is more than 5m in diameter to accommodate people inside it, and the smaller apples are 700mm in diameter. A soundscape by artist Peter Adjaye, which was the outcome of choral workshops attended by the community, will be accessible inside the giant apple.

When commissioning the work, Kings Hill development partners Liberty Property Trust and Kent County Council (KCC) formed a cultural partnership with Turner Contemporary, a leading gallery based in Margate, and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), one of the top creative specialist universities in the UK.

Caroline Binns of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust said: “Public art has always been a vital part of our placemaking in Kings Hill. Over the years we have commissioned numerous sculptures for prominent sites to encourage pride and attachment to the area. As the village nears completion, ‘Slices of Peace’ will be the final significant public art commission to be installed in Kings Hill, providing a lasting legacy for the community.”   

The finished work, which is being curated by Turner Contemporary and UCA, is due to be completed in the Spring. The cultural partnership has been curated by Futurecity.

Yinka Ilori held interactive workshops for the local community as part of his residency to help inspire the creation of the artwork. The outcome of the workshops will translate into an exhibition in the Control Tower gallery produced by UCA students, coinciding with the unveiling of ‘Slices of Peace’ in Spring 2024.

For more information on the public art project, visit www.kings-hill.com/uca-turner-contemporary-public-art

Since his first exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts London in 1973, Alan Rankle’s paintings have been widely shown throughout the UK, Europe and the United States. His style has been described as being as visually spectacular and formally composed as the landscape art of the 17th and 18th centuries but infused with layers of historical and contemporary cultural references.

Alan Rankle’s paintings can now be viewed in The Control Tower in the centre of the garden village where they form part of a larger exhibition of works by six other artists.

Also being exhibited are award-winning ceramicist Frances Doherty, whose inspiration comes from flowers and plants, and sculptor Diccon Dadey, whose creations are mainly fabricated entirely from sheet metal although some include salvaged or drift wood while others are made entirely from scrap metal. In addition, there are works by Ella Clocksin, Amanda Bee, Kirsten Reynolds, Kate Rochester and Rue Asher.

The exhibition is spread across eight locations within Kings Hill – seven office buildings, each highlighting the work of one or two of the participating artists, and The Control Tower Gallery, which features a selection from them all. 

“This is our first exhibition of the year and we are delighted to be displaying work by such a range of artists, some up-and-coming and others firmly-established talents,” said June Frickleton of Frickleton Fine Art, who curates the exhibitions on behalf of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust.

The new exhibition, which is free to visit and runs until 29 February, is the first of three planned for this year. Anyone wishing to book an appointment to view the works of art on display in The Control Tower Gallery can email info@frickletonfineart.co.uk.

Details of each artist, together with an example of their work, are listed on www.kings-hill.com/live/kings-hill-art-exhibitions/current-exhibition

The housebuilder is delivering a total of 542 new homes across five developments at Aviation Park, part of the huge Kings Hill regeneration project which has been taking place over the past 30 years on the site of the former RAF West Malling base.

Within Aviation Park, Bellway Kent is building 140 properties at Blenheim Green and 52 homes at Liberty Quarter, both off Park Drive, where homes are currently under construction and for sale. The first of 70 apartments at Gloster Chase, off Kings Hill Avenue, have also just been released for sale, with 42 for private ownership and the remaining 28 as affordable homes for the local community.

DeHavilland Place, off Jubilee Way, which comprises a further 210 homes, and Westland Place, off Abbey Wood Road, which will bring 70 apartments, are due to be launched in spring next year. 

These five sites will provide a total of 402 properties for the private market and 140 affordable homes available for local people through low-cost rent or shared ownership.

Aviation Park will also see the creation of hundreds of jobs in sales and construction.

Bellway won an award for its part in the Kings Hill regeneration project, claiming the Best Regeneration Project category at the Evening Standard New Homes Awards 2023 in September.

The description for the Best Regeneration Project category stated that the judges were looking for inspired schemes that have transformed a neglected site or zone into a vibrant new quarter, typically with a mix of residential, retail and commercial premises, and green space, and where the lives of local people and businesses have improved as a result.

Chris Moore, Bellway Kent Managing Director, said: “At Bellway, we are proud to be playing a part in this landmark project which is seeing the regeneration of this historic site and transforming it into a vibrant modern community. The award win is a tribute to its success.

“RAF West Malling played a major part in helping Britain defend itself from the German aerial attacks during the Second World War and was an important base during the Cold War. Aircraft based at the site took off from the base to fight the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and to shoot down the V1 flying bombs launched from across the Channel in 1944.

“Although Kings Hill is a project that looks to the future, we also wanted to acknowledge the past and have named Aviation Park and its developments in homage to aircraft manufacturers or planes involved in the Second World War and Cold War. 

“Construction work is progressing well at all five sites within Aviation Park, where we are delivering a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two to five-bedroom houses to help meet the specific requirements of the local housing market.

“Many residents have already moved into their new homes at Liberty Quarter, while the build programme is advancing at Blenheim Green and Gloster Chase, where the first homes are now available to reserve.”

Aviation Park is part of the wider Kings Hill project, where more than 3,500 homes have been built or planned since work began in 1990, along with a million square feet of commercial floor space, three new schools and 23 shops. 

Bellway has previously delivered 381 new homes in Kings Hill since 2011, which has been masterminded by Kent County Council and Liberty Property Trust. 

Residents are able to enjoy the green spaces on their doorstep within Kings Hill, which features 100 acres of public open space including a new linear park as its focal point. 

Part of the military heritage of the site takes centre stage within the linear park, where a Pickett-Hamilton, a rare example of a sunken concrete gun fort built to defend the RAF base’s runway, is on display. The structure, which has been restored, takes centre stage as the focal point of a grassed amphitheatre on the slope of a sculpted grass mound.

Also preserved at Kings Hill are a Bofors light anti-aircraft gun tower and a hexagonal concrete pill box, which, along with the fort, form part of a scheduled monument as defined by Historic England. 

For more information about all five of the Bellway developments at Aviation Park, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/kent.

Thakeham, which focuses on sustainable infrastructure-led placemaking, was founded in 2003 and has its head office in Billingshurst, West Sussex. The company employs more than 250 people and is a market leader in delivering housing to local communities.

Nick Brasier, Operations Director at Thakeham, said: “Establishing our first Kent office will allow us to widen our operations and have a firm foothold in the region. It will also make it easier to cement relationships with local authorities, as well as Kent-based based residential partners, and to grow our land acquisitions in the area.

“Kings Hill is an ideal location; it’s a very green and leafy environment with great transport links. There are also so many amenities in Kings Hill which will be fantastic for our employees. We currently have staff who commute from Kent to Billingshurst so this office will be very convenient for them. As our operations in the region grow, we will look to recruit employees who will be based in Kings Hill permanently.”

The new Kent office will have capacity for 16 employees, as well as break out areas and a board room. It will be used by regional site teams to host operational meetings and will also act as a hub for Thakeham’s Kent-based operations. The company has already delivered affordable home developments with partners in the county and is in the contract process on three further Kent sites.

Caroline Binns of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming Thakeham to Kings Hill. We are pleased to see they are part of an emerging trend of an uptick in office demand, with employees being encouraged back to the workplace where there is a broad range of amenities available to them.”

The 2,031 sq ft office at 39 Kings Hill Avenue, which is a single-storey building with adjacent car parking set in landscaped surroundings, is currently being fitted out. An official opening is due to take place at the end of November.

To view the wide range of office and other commercial accommodation available in Kings Hill, visit www.kings-hill.com/work/.

For more information about Thakeham, visit www.thakeham.com.

The seven paintings that formed Bobby Boud’s solo exhibition in Hanover Square, Mayfair, can now be viewed in The Control Tower Gallery in the centre of the garden village as well as the 30 Tower View office building.

Her work is inspired by the relentless inbound and outbound journey of the tide, and she uses the medium of oil on canvas to encapsulate the place where the sea meets the land, one of constant change and visual magic.

Also showing their work are award-winning ceramicist Frances Doherty, whose inspiration comes from flowers and plants, and Somerset-based sculptor Ian Marlow, who specialises in dynamic artworks made from stainless steel, glass and bronze. In addition, there are colourful and thought-provoking paintings and textiles by a variety of other artists, including Adele Gibson, Rebecca Angel, Linda Abrahams, Emma McGowan and Emily Macguire.

The exhibition is spread across 10 locations – nine office buildings, each highlighting the work of one or two of the participating artists, and The Control Tower Gallery, which features a selection from them all. 

“We try to provide visitors with a variety of works in our ongoing programme of exhibitions – some quirky and some classic – so there is something for everyone to enjoy,” said June Frickleton of Frickleton Fine Art, who curates the exhibitions on behalf of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust.

“The current exhibition represents a cross section of art forms created by talented artists and it is a good opportunity for people to see their work in an informal setting.”

Anyone wishing to book an appointment to view the exhibition in The Control Tower Gallery can email info@frickletonfineart.co.uk. It runs until Friday, 27 October. Details of each artist, together with an example of their work is listed on www.kings-hill.com/live/kings-hill-art-exhibitions/current-exhibition

NHS Property Services has signed a long lease for some 7,000 sq ft of space on behalf of NHS England which joins a growing cluster of health sector specialists including laser eye surgery provider Optegra UK, Genesis Cancer Care UK and Illuminate Skin Clinics.

Caroline Binns of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust said: “I am very pleased to be welcoming the NHS to Kings Hill where they will be joining a flourishing community of public and private sector organisations.”

So far this year, five organisations have committed to taking office space in Kings Hill spanning a variety of sectors such as real estate, construction and highways maintenance. Other companies have taken space in Liberty Square, the garden village’s leisure and retail area. 

Caroline Binns added: “Post-pandemic, Kings Hill has shown itself to be well placed to support employers in accommodating their employees’ hybrid working patterns, providing places to shop and eat, as well as exercise in green open spaces or at the various gyms and the sports park.”

To view the wide range of office and other commercial accommodation available in Kings Hill, visit www.kings-hill.com/work/.

The inbound section of Tower View, from the A228, will be closed for manhole repairs in the locations shown by the red dots on the plan below. 

Safe working practices will require part of the road to be closed for one day, in the location shown by the red lines. Traffic management diversion signs will be in place. 

Should you have any queries regarding the road closure, would you please contact 01732 792048 or enquiries@kingshillmanagment.com

Founded by a former Royal Marine Commando, Brigade opened its first outlet in Marden in 2019 and is now fitting out new premises in Liberty Square.

The company, which currently employs 11 people and will have at least five more when it opens its new premises in August, offers a small group personal training model, with every member assigned their own coach. 

All coaches have core level 2 and 3 personal trainer certification as well as a range of qualifications

from sport and exercise science degrees through to a PhD in psychology. 

Founder Tom Jarrett, who grew up locally and went to Maidstone Grammar School before starting his career with one of the country’s elite military units, said: “I know Kings Hill well and opening here was an easy decision – it is a location with a great community and a huge amount to offer for everyone who lives and works there. 

“We have spent a lot of time looking for the right space and we are confident this is going to be the place to train in Kings Hill. 

“We have been working on bringing Brigade to Kings Hill for over a year and we are really excited that we now have the keys to our new facility and are in build mode. We have already had a lot of interest and cannot wait to start meeting our new members and getting involved with the local community.”

Alongside its state-of-the art exercise equipment, the new Brigade studio plans to offer an inhouse treatment room with an osteopath, physiotherapist or sports therapist available as an additional resource for members. The company, which won the Muddy Stilettos award for best fitness instructors in 2022, also offers coaching in fitness-related areas such as nutrition.

Caroline Binns of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust said: “I am delighted Brigade is coming to Kings Hill and will be adding their award-winning personal fitness training to the range of leisure amenities that are already available here.”

To view the wide range of office and other commercial accommodation available in Kings Hill, visit www.kings-hill.com/work/. 

For more information about Brigade and the training it offers, visit www.brigadefitness.co.uk or email info@brigadefitness.co.uk.