The Brook multi-storey car park in Chatham is set to close in September, ahead of plans to build 100 new homes on the site.
Together with nearby Solomons Road car park, the Brook will close at midnight on Sunday 6 September, before work begins to redevelop the site as part of ongoing regeneration transforming Chatham Town Centre.
Residents, businesses and shoppers are assured the adjoining Pentagon Shopping Centre Car Park, offering 433 parking spaces, will remain open, together with 12 other town centre car parks providing over 700 parking bays and over 35 disabled parking bays.
The 19-bay Solomons Road car park is exclusively for Blue Badge holders only, but measures have been put in to support those who use it, with The Pentagon Shopping Centre providing free disabled parking from 1 September 2026.
The project follows the awarding of £1.58 million through the UK Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF), and a further £400k of capital funding has been provided to run the scheme. In total, the overall project budget is just over £2million.
Medway Development Company have been appointed as the contractor to deliver new homes at Brook MSCP and will be managing the demolition of the car park, which is due to be completed in spring 2027.
A planning application is due to be submitted in spring 2027, before construction works can commence later in 2027, bringing more quality homes to the heart of Chatham town centre.
It follows recent regeneration schemes from Medway Development Company at Garrison Point – where all 115 apartments are now occupied – and Chatham Waterfront.
Meanwhile, with Chatham the focus of a multi-million-pound regeneration programme, the area is also benefiting from health and cultural regeneration schemes too. The James Williams Healthy Living Centre celebrated its official opening in June, situated on the first floor of the Pentagon Shopping Centre, while Ascend Coworking has delivered new office spaces to boost local businesses.
The nearby Paddock has delivered a new green space has seen improved seating, green spaces, planting and an Amphitheatre, to help regenerate the area as a more inviting space for local residents, workers and visitors to enjoy.
Designs are being developed for the new housing scheme at the Brook, and will be shared next year as part of the submission of the planning application.
Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, said: “It’s exciting to have reached the point where this new development at The Brook can get underway, adding to the momentum of regeneration in Chatham. Once completed these homes are going to help transform the town centre into a vibrant community, to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”
Pentagon Centre Manager, Charlene Malone said: “I would like to reassure shoppers, staff, businesses, and everyone who visits the Pentagon Shopping Centre that our car park will remain open and the Centre is very much open for business.
While changes are taking place around us, the Pentagon continues to be a thriving destination at the heart of Chatham. Together with the high street, we’re proud to play a key role in the town centre, and its exciting to see the ongoing transformation bringing new homes, new opportunities, and an even more vibrant community to the area.”
To access the disabled parking at Pentagon Shopping Centre from 1 September, drivers will need to go to the Management Suite on the third floor and register their car details to benefit from the free of charge parking concession.
For more information on Blue Badge parking in Medway visit Medway.gov.uk/BlueBadge
Details of the 12 town centre car parks
|
Car Park |
Number of Bays |
Number of disabled bays |
|
Queen Street |
44 |
5 |
|
Slicketts Hill |
50 (estimated) |
0 |
|
Riverside |
111 |
10 |
|
The Paddock |
53 |
0 |
|
Rhode Street |
128 |
2 |
|
James Street |
47 |
1 |
|
Town Hall |
48 |
4 |
|
St Johns Upper |
64 |
0 |
|
St Johns Lower |
79 |
13 |
|
Church Street |
16 |
0 |
|
Upper Mount |
8 |
0 |
|
Old Road |
81 |
0 |