South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and its partners Medway Council and Medway Renaissance Partnership are working together to regenerate Rochester Riverside and to maximise the use of the existing riverfront. This project in North Kent is a significant part of the Medway Waterfront proposals which in turn will help create a first class European City.

Alongside Communities and Local Government (CLG), SEEDA and the Council aim to make Rochester Riverside an example of excellence in development and design. This scheme will be seen as an exemplar of best practice in sustainable development in the South East of England.

Flood defences, which include a new 2.5 kilometre river wall, are now complete.
The site has been raised by up to two metres using material dredged from the Thames and brought in by river – minimising road use, maximising recycling.

Crest Nicholson PLC, with green living specialists BioRegional Quintain Ltd, have been selected as the preferred developer for the first 600 high quality homes on the seven-hectare phase as well as parks, shops, offices and cafes to provide a sustainable mixed-use community with strong links to the historic centre of Rochester.

The buildings will be of the highest sustainability standards including some at Code of Sustainable Homes Level 6 (the Government’s highest rating). Using the ten One Planet Living principles developed by BioRegional and WWF-International, Crest Nicholson and BioRegional Quintain aim to make sustainable living attractive and affordable, as well as easy to understand and implement.

Developer Welbeck Land has been appointed as the preferred developer for the hotel and commercial quarter of the site adjacent to the historic Rochester Bridge.

Planning Consent has been granted for:

• Up to 2,000 new homes – construction scheduled to start in 2009
• Shops, cafés, bars
• Offices
• Hotels
• Community facilities, including a new primary school and health centre
• A new river walk with cycle path
• The creation of two new creeks to enhance local biodiversity
• New parks and play equipment
  

For further information please contact:
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
The Observatory
Brunel
Chatham Maritime
ME4 4NT
www.seeda.co.uk
01634 899956