Creating the new river city of the Thames Gateway

In 2008, people will see major physical change as the vision, the creation of a new world-class city, starts to become tangible reality.

This year got off to a flying start with the appointment of developers, Crest Nicholson (with green-living specialists BioRegional Quintain) to build phase-one of Rochester Riverside.

This involves around 550 homes, a park and possibly a boutique hotel on 17 acres at the southern end of the site. There’s also potential for offices, shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs and community facilities.

Later development at the northern section of the site will deliver a further 1,500 homes, a primary school, a second park, a hotel with conference facilities and a riverside walk and links to the historic city centre.

This will set the highest of standards for Medway’s wider regeneration ambitions: 16,000 new homes, more than 20,000 new jobs, great transport links, a retail revolution, thriving universities, major new arts venues, massive private sector investment along seven miles of the river.

The 15 year regeneration programme, now valued at £5bn, means Medway has a bright future, as well as a rich history. It is firmly on course to become a prosperous and cohesive new city – a city for the 21st century at the heart of the Thames Gateway – Europe’s biggest regeneration zone.

Chatham – the natural city centre
Chatham is destined to be the heart of the new City of Medway.

Public consultation on development briefs for Chatham’s three key regeneration sites – Chatham Waterfront, Station Gateway and The Brook – is complete and masterplans are being finalised.

The council’s regeneration unit, Medway Renaissance, is talking to major retailers keen to invest in Chatham’s future.
Ambitions for the key Chatham Waterfront regeneration site, masterplanned by leading architect, Dr Ken Yeang, include apartments, parkland, a hotel and a landmark arts and entertainment venue.

Checking into Medwa
Hotel operators are set to check into Medway with 1,000 beds on at least five sites, investing an estimated £50m. The first – the 90 bedroom Ramada Encore at Chatham Maritime – opened shortly before Christmas. Welbeck Land have been selected as developer for a 150-200 bed hotel with conference facilities on Rochester Riverside.

There’s planning permission to convert the waterfront ‘Big Blue’ office complex at Chatham Maritime into a four-star with 180 rooms.

And there’s potential for a number of luxury boutique hotels in and around buildings of historical interest.

Universities at Medway
The universities at Medway – a key source of skills for the future – are enjoying rapid expansion.

There are now 9,000 students – which puts the project a year ahead of target on projected numbers.

Private sector partnership
Medway Council is embarking on a ground-breaking partnership with one of Britain’s leading property developers that’s expected to generate more than £1bn of private sector investment in the regeneration programme.
St Modwen Properties PLC has been chosen as the council’s preferred investment partner.

Leader of Medway Council, Councillor Rodney Chambers said: “This is hugely important to Medway’s future. More than £120m of public funding has gone into our regeneration programme, with much of it spent on the acquisition and preparation of sites for redevelopment.

The project must now be taken forward with private sector money with a programme of investment for the whole community of Medway.”

Going for gold
The 2012 Olympics will boost Medway’s regeneration programme. The Black Lion leisure centre in Gillingham is set to become a regional centre of sporting excellence – to be called Medway park – after the government announced an investment of £5m in the project. This will provide a sporting legacy for residents and enable Medway to offer pre-games training camps for more than 20 events.

Transformed transport
Medway has good links to motorways, the channel ports and high-speed trains to Europe. This year will see the arrival of ‘High Speed 1’ – fast domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link that will slash commuter times between London and Medway. This is seen as a vital catalyst to business investment and growth.

The sky’s the limit
And a major feasibility study is looking at ambitions for a cross-river cable car network linking the historic Medway Towns. The ‘skycab’ system, aimed at commuters and tourists would be the first of its kind in Britain, giving the regenerated City of Medway a unique and iconic skyline.