Countryside Properties : AND HYDE SEEK PLANNING APPROVAL FOR MAJOR REGENERATION SCHEME ROCHESTER RIVERSIDE

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19/07/2017

Countryside, one of the UK's leading home builders specialising in place making and urban regeneration, together with Hyde, an award winning provider of homes and one of the largest housing associations in England, has submitted a hybrid planning application to seek outline planning permission for a £400 million development with up to 1,400 dwellings and 1,200 sq m commercial space at Rochester Riverside in Kent.

The outline planning application includes provision for a primary school and nursery, as well as a pedestrian footbridge, parking, open space and landscaping. In total, over four hectares of new open space will be provided across the masterplan.

Full planning permission is being sought for phases one, two and three of the development, which will see the construction of 489 homes and a hotel, along with 885 sq m of commercial floorspace, site access, parking, open space and landscaping.

Rochester Riverside is a flagship project in Medway Council's regeneration programme. The site comprises 21 hectares of brownfield development land, stretching from Rochester Bridge in the north to Doust Way in the south. Countryside Properties and Hyde have been selected to transform the area over the next 12 years, building around 1,400 new homes, of which 25 per cent will be affordable housing. The project will also feature a new school, nursery, hotel, office space and a number of retail units on the site, making it Medway's most exciting regeneration hotspot with an anticipated final development value of over £400 million.

Feedback following significant engagement with the community and local stakeholder groups, as well as discussions with a local historian has been instrumental in shaping the final application. The comments from the community highlighted the importance of high-quality materials, the desire for green spaces and community amenities, as well as the need for the development to integrate effectively with the existing town centre. Traffic mitigation and parking control measures were also emphasised and these have been taken into account in the final proposals.

Andy Fancy, Operations Director at Countryside Partnerships South said: 'This is a hugely exciting scheme and we are thrilled to be working together with Hyde to bring this planning application forward. Rochester Riverside is a crucial component in Medway's regeneration plan, which is delivering quality homes and much-needed amenities for local residents.'

David Gannicott, Group Business Development Director at Hyde said: 'We are delighted to be submitting our proposals for this exciting new development in historic Rochester. This is a great opportunity to help tackle the housing shortage in the south east and ultimately will provide more people with a roof over their head so they can make a home.'

Neil Miller, Senior Development Manager Thames Gateway, Homes and Communities Agency, said: 'Countryside and Hyde have put together an impressive proposal for the site that takes into account the opinions of local stakeholders. We are looking forward to working with them to transform this derelict area of Rochester and are committed to ensuring the development meets our aims of providing high quality homes, including genuinely affordable housing.'

Cllr Rodney Chambers, Medway's Council's Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment, Strategic Regeneration and Partnership said: 'I look forward to seeing how the feedback from the public engagement events have been weaved into the plans. 'The proposed development is set to boost the local economy providing new jobs, shops and facilities and helping us to meet the needs of Medway's growing population.'

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