成人快手

Kent Thameside map. Image: SEEDA

Away from the major development sites within the Ebbsfleet Valley, there are several smaller regeneration projects underway in north Kent.

The South East of England Development Agency [SEEDA] is in charge of breathing new life into parts of Dartford and Gravesend, as well as an ambitious project along 2.5 km of the north Kent coast, near Northfleet.

Dartford town centre and the Northern Gateway

THE CHALLENGE: Dartford, as one of the largest existing town centres in the Kent Thameside area, forms an integral part of the Thames Gateway strategy.听Dartford is seen as having a disjointed town centre, defined by the ring road and the railway line. The area north of the train station, an industrial site known as the Northern Gateway, is cut off from the rest of the town.

Dartford Northern Gateway map

However, the town still boasts Kent's premier business park, Crossways, and the Thames Gateway's first major regeneration project now under construction, known as The Bridge.

THE POTENTIAL: The plan is to regenerate Dartford town centre and build new homes, business space and facilities north of the railway. The idea is also to make the River Darent more accessible in Dartford, with improved links to the Dartford Marshes to the north.

One of the focuses for regeneration will be the Lowfield Street area, where 拢94m will be spent on shops [161,000 square feet] and a new pedestrian square linking the site with the High Street and Central Park.

The Northern Gateway area has been home to large employers such as GlaxoSmithKline, who are shrinking their business in the area, freeing up land for development.

WHERE: Located close to M25, A2, M2 and M20 鈥� Fastrack service to Bluewater, Europe鈥檚 largest shopping centre; 40 minutes by car to Central London. Fastrack to be extended to Ebbsfleet International Station when it opens to domestic passengers for full services in December 2009. Advanced preview services are already running.

NUMBERS: Possibly 1,250 new homes and 35,000sq m of employment space within the Northern Gateway. There are plans for a new health and social care centre as well.

WHO'S INVOLVED: SEEDA, Dartford Borough Council, Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), Kent Thameside Regeneration Partnership and Kent County Council.

Plans of Northfleet Embankment

Northfleet Embankment

THE CHALLENGE: Northfleet is a development听on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of Kent Thameside. Originally a Victorian seaside resort, the area later became home to a number of industrial sites, which over recent years have gone into decline or become derelict. However, its closeness to the existing town centres of Gravesend and Dartford makes the site a prime location - just a mile away from the new International Station at Ebbsfleet. SEEDA is currently concentrating on the eastern section of the site, where plans are to build a vibrant new community.

THE POTENTIAL: The Northfleet Cement Works demolition leaves the way clear for a major residential and business development on the banks of the River Thames. There will be a promenade along the waterside and the new Fastrack service links Dartford and Gravesend.

WHERE: Close to Gravesend and Dartford, this waterfront site of 87 hectares stretches 2.5 km along the Thames.

NUMBERS: The Eastern section of the site is to feature 1,500 new homes, all Eco-homes rating 鈥淓xcellent鈥�, including 450 affordable homes, up to 25,000 sq m of new employment space creating up to 800 jobs, new primary school and community facilities, including health care provision, plus open spaces and a 2.5 hectare riverside walk.

WHO'S INVOLVED?: SEEDA, Gravesham Borough Council, Kent County Council, DCLG and Kent Thameside Regeneration Partnership. SEEDA secured Government funding of nearly 拢18m in 2003 for masterplanning, producing a planning application and key acquisitions including 10-acre Red Lion Wharf and the 33-acre TT Electronics site at Northfleet Embankment East.

Image: Kent Thameside

North East Gravesend Canal Basin Regeneration

Between the centre of Gravesend and the river, planning has been granted for 1,870 new homes and the creation of 37,500 square feet of leisure, retail and recreational facilities. Phase 1 of this 拢120m scheme is already in progress at the western end.

At the heart of the project, will be the Gravesend Canal Basin, which originally formed part of the Thames and Medway Canal.

WHO'S INVOLVED? SEEDA are the land owners and Countryside Properties PLC are the constructors.

Gravesend Town Centre

Work is underway to develop the Lord Street / Parrock Street site for housing, shops and leisure facilities as well as the repair and refurbishment of The Old Town Hall to provide a social and enterprise centre. The Fastrack bus services bring domestic services to Gravesend station, and provide links to Dartford station and Ebbsfleet International station.

Contacts

For more information on the regeneration of Kent Thameside contact the Regeneration Partnership:
The Old Rectory
Springhead Road
Northfleet
Kent, DA11 8HN
info@kent-thameside.co.uk
01474 338800

Or:

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
The Observatory
Brunel
Chatham Maritime
ME4 4NT
www.seeda.co.uk
01634 899900