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Chatham future

Photo of a birds-eye view of Chatham WaterfrontA two-year programme of major road and infrastructure improvements started in February 2009.

When completed, the work will open up key sites for redevelopment and provide Chatham with extra traffic capacity and easier journeys.

The work is paid for by central government funding and builds on the benefits brought about by the replacement of the Chatham ring-road system in 2007.

Delivering this remodelled road system is an essential element of the 20-year regeneration programme that will establish Chatham as the commercial and a transformed cultural city centre for Medway. The road improvements have the public support of leading businesses, including Arriva, Tesco and the Pentagon Shopping Centre.

 

Chatham Waterfront Bus Station

 

Artist's impression of the new bus station in ChathamChatham Waterfront Bus Station opens on Monday, 10 October.

With its modern, sleek design and open surroundings the new facility will present a much more welcoming reception to the bustling heart of Medway.

Services will run from the station seven days a week serving destinations across Medway and Kent.

 

 

At the Chatham Waterfront Bus Station there will also be a Travel Information Centre where information can be obtained on all bus services and tickets can be purchased. This will open on Monday, 17 October.

You can download more information from this website and download a map and a list of FAQs.

Globe Lane is closed to general traffic in both directions and will not re-open to general traffic. Traffic seeking to avoid Globe Lane should not use Military Road to reach the Brook. Alternative routes are via Star Hill and New Road (from the direction of Strood) and Chatham Hill and New Road (from the direction of Gillingham).

This permanent closure represents the last phase in changing the pattern of traffic movements around Chatham Town Centre that started with the replacement of the one-way gyratory system in 2006.  These changes are part of the regeneration programme for Chatham that includes improvement of Union Street and the Brook; works that are under way to increase traffic capacity around the town.

Temporary traffic management will be needed during this phase of works.  While we aim to keep any impact to a minimum, please allow extra time for journeys through this area.  For your safety and that of our workforce and to reduce delay, please follow the signed traffic management arrangements.

Current works

Location Activity Status
Junction of Globe Lane, Medway Street, and Waterfront Way EDF and other service diversions Medway Street footway is closed to enable completion of the utility diversions and construction of the bus station.
Globe Lane car park Site and contractors compound A large part of the Globe Lane car park and its access from Globe Lane has been closed. The remaining spaces are accessible from Medway Street only.  Alternative parking is available in Chatham town centre.
Globe Lane car park Construction of service trench for new bus station Service trench is complete. New water main is laid and in use. Foul sewer and chambers for pumping station are complete. Ducts for electricity and communications have been laid across the site.
  Demolition of Age Concern building Demolition is complete.
  Demolition of Veterans Club Demolition is complete.
  Whitehouse Strip out of flooring is complete. Underpinning and repair of windows is complete. Roof replaced and internal works under way.
  Construction of Information Centre and platform canopies Piling and foundations are complete. Steel structure on course for construction to be followed by construction of canopy roofs.
  Construction of new carriageways Construction of new road is under way. Shape of bus station now visible on site.
Military Road Public space improvements Construction of public space improvements of the junction with the Brook are under way.
Paddock Construction of new path to Globe Lane Tree protection and site safety fencing has been erected and excavation completed in preparation for construction of retaining walls and path.
  Tree Planting New trees are expected to be planted on the Paddock during the current tree planting season.
Brook New carriageway and footway construction Widened carriageway at the end of the Paddock is in use.  Footway works from Dock Road to Brook Theatre is complete.  Works continuing to create new central islands and improve junctions.

 

Union Street

Computer generated image of pedestrian crossing on The Brook by Union Street in Chatham

This is a key scheme for the regeneration of Chatham town centre. Widening and straightening Union Street and improving its junctions with New Road, Best Street, High Street and the Brook will increase traffic capacity for existing road users and allow future regeneration. New and improved public spaces will be created on the High Street and Best Street and improved crossings provided for pedestrians.  Work started in April and is now close to completion.

Temporary traffic management will be needed during the works and while we aim to keep any impact to a minimum, please allow extra time for journeys through this area. For your safety and that of our workforce and to reduce delay, please follow the signed traffic management arrangements.

This scheme includes a westbound bus lane from Upbury Way to Union Street. This was brought into use on 21 February 2011. General traffic from Luton Arches is encouraged to use the A2 New Road and Union Street for access to the Brook.

 

Access to Union Place (and Gala) car parks on completion of the Union Street scheme.

Traffic travelling south on the Brook from Slicketts Hill direction will be able to turn left into the car park entrance. This route will also serve people who choose to travel from Luton Arches direction via the High Street, Upbury Way and Slicketts Hill.

It will also be possible to reach this entrance from New Road and Best Street by completing a partial U-turn under traffic signal control from the right turn lane at the Union Street/High Street junction.

Vehicles exiting the car park will turn left onto the High Street and will then be able to turn left under traffic signal control towards Best Street/New Road or right onto the Brook.

Current works

Location Activity Status
Queen Street car park  Contractors site compound The eastern part of Queen Street car park has been closed to provide a secure site for the contractors compound. This will be in place for the duration of these works and those taking place on the Brook. The car park will re-open following completion of the construction works.
Union Street Construction of a brick faced retaining wall adjacent to Gala Bingo to support the realigned carriageway Main structure of wall is complete and brick facing is substantially complete. Completion of wall awaits improved weather. Completion awaits delivery of parapet railings.
  Land raising, laying of new drainage and services and construction of new carriageway and footway

Substantially complete. Some street lighting to be installed and road signs to be erected.
High Street  Construction of new bus stop, planters and granite paving Paving adjacent to White Lion public house and Gala Bingo substantially complete. New trees have been planted adjacent to Gala Bingo. Construction now progressing on Gala and Tesco footways.
Best Street Construction of realigned carriageway and new landscaped areas Carriageway construction complete. New planters complete. Tree planting due to take place during the current planting season. Paving works close to completion.

 

Improvements to the Brook

Photo of The Brook, ChathamThis is an important scheme for the regeneration of Chatham town centre. The existing road will be widened on its north side to improve traffic capacity, pedestrian and cycle facilities. The scheme includes new landscaping and improvements to the appearance of the street to provide a foundation for future development. Work started in September and, subject to the uncertainties of construction, is expected to be complete in the summer.

 

Temporary traffic management will be needed during the works and while we aim to keep any impact to a minimum, please allow extra time for journeys through this area. For your safety and that of our workforce and to reduce delay, please follow the signed traffic management arrangements and do not enter the construction sites.

Current works

Location Activity Status
Queen Street car park Contractors site compound Queen Street car park has been closed to provide a secure site for the contractors compound. This will be in place for the duration of these works. The car park will re-open on completion of the constructions works.
  Construction of new carriageway and footways Clearance complete. Construction of drainage complete. Work under way to construct “offline” carriageway.
Brook Demolition of numbers 101-105a Brook Buildings have been demolished in preparation for the construction of the new carriageway. Materials have been crushed and recycled for construction on site.
  Construction of new shared access to Brook multi-storey car park and Pentagon taxi route Complete and open for use.
  Southern Water pumping station Construction of a new retaining wall is under way.
Crown House frontage BT service diversions Construction of new chamber and associated manhole is now complete.

 

Waterfront Way/High Street

Photo of Waterfront WayThe new bus and taxi route and refurbishment of the High Street has made the west end of Chatham town centre a much more attractive place to be.  This scheme is substantially complete with just the final details to put in place. Thank you for your patience during what has been a long and complex construction process.

 

Current works

Location Activity Status
Waterfront Way New bus, taxi and cycle route Open to buses, taxis and cycles. Other traffic should not use this route and may be committing an offence.
   Bus stops Bus stop construction is complete and in use by some services. Shelters will be added and stops brought into full use as part of Chatham’s new bus station.
  Landscaped area east of Waterfront Way Construction is complete.
High Street New pedestrian crossing with Waterfront Way Complete and open for use. Careful design without guardrails has kept the area as open and unobstructed as possible.
  Refurbishment between Waterfront Way and Railway Street Complete and open for use. The scheme is intended to set a standard for future work in the town centre.
  Refurbishment between Waterfront Way and Manor Road Substantially complete, awaiting completion of street lighting and minor ‘snagging’. Tree planting complete.
High Street/Perrins Site Construction of turning area and new planted areas Turning area is complete.
Sir John Hawkins Car Park Temporary bus route removed and refurbishment of car park Refurbished car park is complete and open for use. Car park extension complete.

 

Chatham Waterfront pre-planning application exhibition

Chatham Waterfront development artists impressionA detailed planning application is being prepared for a mixed-use scheme on The Waterfront at Medway Street.

The project will include retail and residential uses grouped around new public spaces between Medway Street and the Waterfront Park. The scheme responds to the character and landscape of Chatham's waterfront and will provide views to River Medway from within and the existing fabric of the city.

 

An exhibition was held at Chatham Community Hub on Thursday, 25 November 2010. A leaflet (pdf 300KB) with information regarding the exhibition is also available for download.

 

Planning application for mixed use redevelopment of Queen Street

An outline planning application has been approved for new homes and shops on the Brook on the site of the current Queen Street and Slicketts Hill car parks. In November 2009 people were invited to study and comment on the proposals ahead of the submission of the planning application. The proposals draw on the ambitions of the 2008 Chatham Centre and Waterfront Development Brief.

Artist's impression of proposed Queen Street developmentArtist's impression of proposed Queen Street development

 

Best Street/High Street Masterplan Consultation

Computer-generated image of the Best Street and High Street area of ChathamStep by step, the exciting transformation of Chatham into a major regional shopping centre is progressing.

The proposed masterplan, which highlights extra shopping space covering the equivalent of three football pitches, was recently approved for consultation by Medway Council's Cabinet.

Residents were able to make their comments on the masterplan from 7 June to 19 July 2010.

 

 

 

Gunwharf MasterplanBirds-eye view of the Gun Wharf area of Chatham with the boundary of the masterplan area outlined in red

Medway Council commissioned a team of consultants to prepare a masterplan for the Gun Wharf area of Chatham.

When adopted, the masterplan will become a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that will guide development in the Gun Wharf area.

 

 

 

For current and planned roadworks information please visit: http://medway.elgin.gov.uk/.

Throughout these complex infrastructure works, traders and residents will have access to clear and reliable information about the developing schedule. You can keep up-to-date by visiting this page and reading Medway Matters, which goes to all homes in Medway.

As the programme develops, a series of newsletters and flyers will be distributed to the people most affected by each phase of the work. In addition, information is available from Medway Council’s Customer First team. Find out more by phoning 01634 334567, emailing customer.first@medway.gov.uk.

Relevant documents:

 

For more information contact Medway Regeneration by telephone: 01634 306000 or by email: info@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Medway Regeneration, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

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