Proposals have been submitted for the KM Group's Larkfield head office

KM Group has submitted plans for a new purpose-built headquarters as part of a major redevelopment of its site in Larkfield, near Maidstone.

The family-owned firm is working with developers Redrow on the project, which will see the existing KM Group building replaced with a new three-storey office, with 55 homes built on other parts of the 4.1 acre site.

The proposals have been submitted to Tonbridge and Malling Council, which kick-starts the 13-week planning permission process.

KM Group employees are being relocated to other offices across the county, including Medway, Maidstone and Whitstable, during the construction work, with staff expected to return to the Larkfield site in summer 2013 if the plans are approved.

KM Group managing director Richard Elliot described the move as an exciting new chapter in the firm's history.

He said the current Larkfield building, which had been the group's headquarters since 1971, was no longer suitable for a modern media company.

The KM operates radio stations and a portfolio of websites - including KentOnline - in addition to its paid-for and free weekly newspapers.

Mr Elliot added: "The Larkfield building served us well when we were purely a newspaper publisher, but KM Group has evolved into a multimedia company and we need a headquarters that reflects our current needs."

Mr Elliot said large parts of the current site have been left vacant since the KM Group restructured its business. These include the former press hall, as KM titles are now printed by Trinity Mirror.

Under the proposals, Redrow will oversee the construction of the new homes, while developers George Wilson and Mark Quinn will be the KM Group's partners for the construction of the new headquarters, having previously worked with the publisher on the construction of its office in Whitstable.