AECOM's appointment was announced by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP. The scheme was identified in the 2014 Budget, with government making available up to £200 million of infrastructure funding to kick start the development.

Drawing on its experience of leading design and delivery of the London 2012 Olympic Masterplan and legacy development, alongside masterplanning major community developments in Milton Keynes, at North West Cambridge and the new garden community at Whitehill-Bordon in Hampshire, AECOM will lead a team comprising three sub-consultants: Stirling Prize winning architect Maccreanor Lavington, commercial property and real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield, and Spacehub, a young design studio specialising in strategic landscape architecture, public realm and ecology.

Capable of providing up to 15,000 new homes, the AECOM-led masterplan framework will incorporate distinct communities within Ebbsfleet across an area spanning 1,026 hectares. By taking a site-wide approach, AECOM and Ebbsfleet Development Corporation will look to maximise the potential of the dramatic setting of Ebbsfleet between the Thames and the green belt to create distinctive communities in a contemporary city in the garden of England. Working closely with landowners and developers, the framework will connect housing growth with existing and future infrastructure investment to accelerate housing development. Central to the new garden city development is Ebbsfleet International Rail Station on the High-Speed 1 European rail line.

Louise Wyman, Director of Strategy at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, said: 'We are delighted to have appointed the AECOM team to deliver the framework masterplan for Ebbsfleet. This is an important day in the life of this future garden city - and what better way to mark it than with a visit from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP. My hope is that this programme of work establishes a clear, progressive and deliverable vision for England's first locally-led garden city for 100 years.'

Andrew Jones, Practice Leader - Design, Planning & Economics for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India at AECOM, said: 'Ebbsfleet is the most significant strategic framework masterplan to be commissioned in the UK since the Olympic Park. As well as creating a new and distinctive community with excellent connections to London and Europe, the garden city will be a well-designed, self-sufficient settlement where people want to live, work and visit. As the first to come forward, Ebbsfleet must leave a legacy that will shape a generation of contemporary garden cities.'

The framework masterplan will be developed in line with the government's objectives of creating high-quality housing and communities supported by local employment opportunities, excellent infrastructure and recreational amenities. It will provide Ebbsfleet Development Corporation with a strategy for the next stage of Ebbsfleet's development, with a planning horizon of 20 years.

Kevin Logan, Associate Director at Maccreanor Lavington, said: 'We are passionate about creating liveable neighbourhoods; seeding meaningful spaces in which communities can grow and blossom. As such, we are delighted to be part of AECOM's team, and look forward to working collaboratively to deliver a 21st century garden city.'

Nick Lambert, Senior Director and Cushman & Wakefield's lead on the project, said: 'This is what brownfield regeneration is all about. In redefining this area of North Kent, Ebbsfleet has the potential to become renowned as one of Western Europe's exemplar regeneration projects. Understanding viability is a key part of scenario building. Cushman & Wakefield will work collaboratively with the design team to ensure that the financial outcome of options are tested objectively, the vision can be delivered and that financial returns and development outputs are optimised within the context of the objectives of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and the existing landowners.'

Tom Smith, Director at Spacehub, said: 'We are incredibly excited to be selected as part of the team to deliver the Ebbsfleet garden city masterplan. The project represents a unique opportunity to deliver the next chapter of the UK's garden city legacy. The masterplan will unlock an extraordinary landscape, re-connecting new and existing communities within Dartford, Gravesham and North West Kent.'

AECOM was appointed via its position on the Homes and Communities Agency's Multi-disciplinary Framework Agreement 2014-2018. Work will start immediately, with the final framework masterplan due to be completed in 2016.

-ENDS-

Media contact:
Muna Al-Azzawi
Head of External Communications - Europe, Middle East, India and Africa
AECOM
Mobile: 07917 574 766
muna.al-azzawi@aecom.com

Notes to Editors

About AECOM
AECOM is a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm positioned to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world for public- and private-sector clients. The firm's global staff - including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals - serves clients in over 150 countries around the world. AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering design firm by revenue in Engineering News-Record magazine's annual industry rankings, and has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a World's Most Admired Company. The firm is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering customized and creative solutions that meet the needs of clients' projects. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM companies, including URS Corporation and Hunt Construction Group, had revenue of approximately $19 billion during the 12 months ended June 30, 2015. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at www.aecom.com.

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