COMMERCIAL property at Kings Hill, the county's flagship mixed-use development, has a problem of success - it is fully let.

As bosses await the official go-ahead for further expansion, they have been forced to put inquiries for space on hold.

For the first time in its history, the West Malling project has no space to spare. Andrew Blevins, managing director of developers Rouse Kent, has mixed feelings about the situation.

He said: "This is an enviable position to be in. It is an equally unenviable position because we have no speculative product to re-house expanding organisations and we're going to have a time gap between the moment we press the button to start our next building and delivery."

A proposed £19m office complex at 42 Kings Hill Avenue will add 58,000 sq ft to ease the problem, but construction will not start for a few months. If it finally goes ahead, it will create space for 300 new jobs to add to the 3,000 already at Kings Hill.

Mr Blevins admits the hiatus could affect the short-term success of the park. "We have got to maintain momentum, press and market awareness throughout that period - that will be our key challenge."

But more important for Mr Blevins is the outcome of Rouse Kent's bid for a lot more commercial space to move the park towards an ultimate goal of two million square feet.

"There's a whole raft of capital projects that will be part and parcel of the implementation of the phase two planning consent."

Kings Hill is now around 50 per cent developed. Yet inquiries from London companies in particular are pouring in as they seek to quit largely decaying office stock.

As well as the 3,000-strong workforce, Kings Hill is home to 1,000 residents. But only a small number - around 15 per cent - work in the offices on their doorsteps.

"We anticipate an increase in the proportion of people who work and live on or very close to Kings Hill," said Mr Blevins, who hopes it will rise to at least 25 per cent.

Rouse Kent is part of the Pennsylvania-based Liberty Property Trust founded by the late Bill Rouse.