Planning permission has been granted for a new Maggie’s cancer support centre in Kent and East Sussex.
The centre, to be located at the rear of Maidstone Hospital near the Kent Oncology Centre, is expected to open in 2028.
How is the new cancer centre unique?
Designed by Assemble Studio, the centre will feature comfortable spaces for one-on-one consultations, group activities, exercise classes and a calming garden area.
It will offer free, expert support to people living with cancer, alongside their family members and friends, with no appointment needed.
The centre was planned as a partnership between Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) and the cancer support charity Maggie’s.
The development is part of a wider investment in cancer services at MTW, which includes improvements to radiotherapy technology, expanded outpatient capacity, and ongoing efforts to maintain fast access to treatment.
The Trust currently meets all three national cancer standards and has consistently achieved the 62-day cancer standard for more than six years.
“The Maggie’s centre will be a transformative space where patients can talk, learn, and take a breath, supported by experts who know what they’re going through, working hand-in-hand with the specialists in the Kent Oncology Centre,” said Philippa Moth, Chief of Cancer Services for MTW.
Ongoing fundraising efforts and public involvement
The centre is expected to support more than 20,000 visits annually, reflecting the more than 11,000 people diagnosed with cancer each year in Kent.
A £7m fundraising campaign will now continue to enable the centre’s development.
Maggie’s Chief Executive, Dame Laura Lee DBE, said the new Kent centre is a milestone as the charity works towards its ambition of 60 centres across the UK, aiming to ensure no one faces cancer alone.
Last year, planning permission was also granted to establish a new Maggie’s cancer support centre to be built within the grounds of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
MTW and Maggie’s will host an online public Q&A session on 28 April starting at 6pm to provide further details on the Maidstone project.