Introduction


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;
  • cafes;
  • bars;
  • restaurants,
  • offices and shops;
  • two new hotels, including one with conference facilities;
  • a new 1.55 miles (2.5km) river walk;
  • open spaces;
  • parks and play equipment;
  • creeks;
  • bridges and links to the historic city centre.

Background

Rochester Riverside is 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 £38 million of government funding from the Sustainable Communities Programme. The funds have been spent constructing new flood defences and other engineering works to prepare the site for future development.



New development

The marketing of the first phase of development land, from Doust Way to Blue Boar Creek, began in September 2006.

Medway Council and SEEDA ensured that only developers with exceptional credentials were shortlisted to deliver this exemplar scheme, ie:

  • sufficient financial strength to undertake the project;
  • the ability to design and build the high quality buildings they wish to see at Rochester Riverside and;
  • a commitment to community and local economic regeneration.

Crest Nicholson PLC, with green living specialists BioRegional Quintain Ltd., were selected as the preferred developer for the first homes in January 2008. They were chosen from a shortlist of four developers by landowners and project partners Medway Council and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

Crest Nicholson plan 600 high quality homes on the seven-hectare site as well as parks, shops, offices and cafes to provide a sustainable mixed-use community with strong links to the historic centre of Rochester.

Affordable housing, a quarter of the total, will be provided and managed by registered social housing landlord The Hyde Group.

Further information on the marketing of the first phase is available in the brochure The Time is Now (pdf 1,251KB).



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 Rochester Riverside brochure and regular newsletters:

and on the Medway Renaissance website (www.medwayrenaissance.com).

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


You can use the visitors' viewing platform by making an appointment during office hours with the Medway Renaissance team via the contact page or the main Medway Renaissance website at www.medwayrenaissance.com.