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Rochester Riverside

Introduction

Aerial photo of Rochester RiversideRochester Riverside is a 32-hectare (74-acre) brownfield site, one of the most exciting development projects in the Thames Gateway. The site stretches from the A2 Rochester bridge southwards to Doust Way. The River Medway forms the eastern boundary of the site, while the London to Dover railway line forms the western boundary.

Indicative masterplan

Outline planning permission has been granted for a substantial, new, mixed-use development at Rochester Riverside to include:

  • up to 2,000 new mixed-tenure homes;
  • cafés;
  • bars;
  • restaurants;
  • offices and shops;
  • two new hotels, including one with conference facilities;
  • a new 1.55-mile (2.5km) river walk;
  • open spaces;
  • parks and play equipment;
  • creeks;
  • bridges and links to the historic city centre.

The masterplan can be found in the Rochester Riverside brochure (pdf 585KB). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to use this and the other pdf files on this page. If you do not have it on your computer, please use our advice page.

Background

Rochester Riverside is a project managed in partnership by Medway Council and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) (www.seeda.co.uk/). In 2003, both organisations signed a collaboration agreement to secure the successful regeneration of Rochester Riverside. The land is owned by both organisations, which have invested substantial funds in the site.

Engineering works

In 2005, Medway Council successfully secured over £38million of government funding from the Sustainable Communities Programme. The work was completed in 2008 in preparation for the new development.

Current works

Medway Council has recently appointed civil engineering contractor FM Conway Ltd to carry out the following works at Rochester Riverside:

  • Build a new road and footways onto the Rochester Riverside site
  • Provide new utility supplies including gas, electricity and drainage
  • Improve the junction of Doust Way with the High Street
  • Improve access to the bus stop in the High Street
  • Alter Eason’s Yard car park

The initial work will be completed by early September 2011. During this time:

  • Eason’s Yard car park will be temporarily closed for redesign;
  • new parking spaces will be created in the High Street;
  • vehicle access and safe walkways will be provided to the student accommodation located off Doust Way;
  • the riverside walk will not be accessible between Doust Way and Furrells Road, please use Blue Boar Lane or Gas House Road.

While initial work gets under way at Medway’s flagship regeneration site you may find it helpful to know where alternative parking and recycling facilities are.

For further information, check out the Rochester Riverside Summer 2011 newsletter.

New development

One of the biggest housing associations in the south-east, The Hyde Group, is working with Medway Council to develop the first phase of the Rochester Riverside regeneration site.

Leader of Medway Council Cllr Rodney Chambers said: “I’m delighted that we’ve overcome the challenges of the current housing market to attract the interest of such an impressive developer”.

Under the joint scheme, Hyde will build 73 new affordable homes and one retail unit. Medway Council will fund and build a new road and services for the homes. The scheme is backed by a £4.6m affordable housing grant from the Homes and Communities Agency. The new homes comprise of 32 flats (one and two bedrooms) and a 41 unit extra care building. The extra care homes are designed for assisted living and are self contained flats.  Hyde expects to start building in September 2011 with the first homes ready in early 2013.

Sustainable development

The Green Charter (pdf 263KB) has been published to ensure that Rochester Riverside exceeds the latest government regulations on sustainability and sets out the standards for the new development. Developers will have to meet minimum requirements covering:

  • water usage;
  • carbon emissions;
  • sustainable building materials;
  • timber sources;
  • recycling;
  • waste management.

Further information

There is more information about other Rochester Riverside activities in the archives of the Rochester Riverside newsletter:

Please note that the existing businesses at Castleview Business Estate and Acorn Shipyard continue to trade as usual.

 

 

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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