Bradbourne House, owned and managed by the East Malling Trust is a Grade I-listed 16th century structure set within parkland, to the north of East Malling village. The historic property was owned by the Twisden family until 1937 after which it was purchased by the Kent Incorporated Society for Promoting Experiments in Horticulture, now known as the East Malling Trust.
Part of the land proposed for the Bradbourne development is used for horticultural trials and cultivated and managed by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany East Malling (NIAB East Malling). Some of this land is now becoming surplus to requirements due to technological advances in fruit production research and development.
To the east the site is bounded by existing homes as well as a distribution depot and Barming railway station. The western part of the site encloses the existing Orchard Gate residential development. It is bound by Kiln Barn Road beyond which are the science, research and conferencing facilities operated by East Malling Trust in conjunction with a third party. The London Victoria to Maidstone East railway line lies to the south. To the north is Quarry Wood Industrial Estate, which includes supermarkets, shops, food outlets, and industrial and commercial units.