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Key Regeneration Aims
Medway is the biggest regeneration zone in the Thames
Gateway.
The Medway regeneration programme is set
to transform the area into a city of 300,000 people over the next
20 years. The programme represents an unparalleled regeneration
opportunity. It will be a new, exciting, linear city centre,
spanning 11 kilometres of the River Medway with Chatham Centre and
Waterfront at its heart and will generate:
- A major transport infrastructure
- Up to 16,000 new homes
- More than 20,000 new jobs
- A retail culture commensurate
- High quality spaces and places
The strategy is an overarching framework for
development on the waterfront for the next 20 years which brings
together and builds upon existing planning guidance.
Key generation themes include:
Social regeneration
As part of a 20-year regeneration programme lasting until 2026,
Medway has embarked upon a huge transformation in terms of its
physical environment, its community and its economy. The first
phase involves a £120million programme of urban and brownfield
regeneration along the Medway waterfront.
A Healthy economy
The Medway economy needs to be healthy and growing to provide
the full range of opportunities to existing and new Medway
residents. Priorities for investment have been identified in the
Economic Development Statement
Learning and skills
The continued development of the further and higher education
offer, together with improvements to skills development,
participation levels, vocational training and post 19 training are
all vital to the success of Medway.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure provision both within and beyond Medway is
crucial to further growth and success.
Health
Improving the health of Medway residents is important together
with the provision and delivery of the local health
infrastructure.
Housing
The creation of cohesive and sustainable communities is a
priority for Medway with an expected 12,500 – 16,000 homes to be
built. It is clear that benefits from growth must be delivered to
existing communities and that new developments must be effectively
integrated. There will be an emphasis on bringing communities
together.
The environment
Environmental priorities include ‘Greening the Kent and Medway
Gateway’ including delivery of key initiatives such as Green Grid
Medway and Great Lines City Park, managing flood risk, leading in
sustainable construction, reducing the impact on natural resources
and utilising renewable energy together with enhancing existing
environment and green spaces.
Sports and Leisure
Medway has a proud history of hosting major sporting and
cultural events and is well placed to capitalise on the 2012 London
Olympics and beyond. Medway will have the transport links and
tourism offer to capture locally the potential benefits of the 2012
games.
Tourism and heritage
As a tourism destination Medway is already well placed – Upnor
and Rochester Castles, Rochester Cathedral and Chatham Historic
Dockyard are established destinations. The Historic Dockyard is
building on its role as a South East hub museum and a lead museum
for Kent. Medway is developing a bid for World Heritage Site status
for the dockyard and its defences.
Culture
A major element in transforming Medway into a premier European
city will be the provision of a range of cultural experiences and
opportunities appropriate for a city of 300,000. Existing cultural
assets and new cultural initiatives will help to establish the
identity of the city and create a positive image.
Transport
Transport for Medway puts transport right at the heart of the
regeneration plans. It is essential that we provide a sustainable
public transport system that is accessible. Transport priorities
have been identified for Medway, via the Local Transport Plan and
regional priority setting.
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