We have been awarded almost £4million government funding to unlock unused land to create new homes.
Across the country, nearly 100 regeneration projects will receive £60 million from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with Medway receiving one of the largest shares - £3,968,371. We worked in partnership with Medway Development Company on the bids.
The investment is part of the second phase of the government’s £180million Brownfield Land Release Fund which aims to transform unused land into beautiful and thriving neighbourhoods.
We will receive £1,700,000 for redevelopment of the landmark Strood Civic Site to deliver 171 new homes. Following the demolition of the previous building, flood defences have already been installed at the site and the funding will be used to undertake enabling works for the residential development.
We will also receive £730,000 to redevelop the former Debenhams building in Chatham High Street. The funding will be used to enable part of the building to be converted into residential development.
The government has also awarded us £940,238 to deliver 164 homes at Mountbatten House in Chatham. The funding will be specifically used for concrete repairs, structural works, construction access route works, utility diversions and some minor demolition works.
We will also use the funding to create 37 affordable homes. The council will receive £363,137 to deliver a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme at Lennox Wood, Petham Green, Twydall as well as £234,996 for another affordable development at Aburound House in Woodlands Road, Gillingham. The funding will support the demolition and preparation of the sites for 19 homes at Lennox Wood and a further 18 homes for affordable rent at Aburound House.
Building a range of much-needed homes
Cllr Naushabah Khan, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing and Property, said: “We are delighted that we will be receiving almost £4million of government funding to unlock these important sites and build a range of much-needed new homes. This adds to a string of successful Medway bids for central government funding and is testament to the council’s reputation for ambition and delivery. I am particularly pleased that we will be building two developments which will be completely affordable. We are committed to sustainable development in Medway and I look forward to watching these exciting developments progress.”
More information about the works will be announced in due course.
The One Public Estate programme is a partnership between the Office of Government Property in the Cabinet Office, the Local Government Association and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. It provides practical and technical support and funding for public sector partners to deliver ambitious property-led programmes in collaboration.