Page 26 - KPRM 2019

Kent County Council, Medway Council & Kent’s District Council Commentary
Infrastructure and Regeneration
North Kent
Dartford
Situated at the heart of the Thames Gateway regeneration area in north-west Kent, the Borough of Dartford stands at a pivotal point between Greater London, Kent and Essex.
It has excellent connections to central London, the south-east and UK channel ports and the continent via
the strategic road and rail network. The intersection of the A2 and M25 and the Dartford Crossing provide a unique locational advantage helping attract investment interest and drive strong growth locally. A positive investment climate
is further assisted by an up-to-date Local Plan guiding development, strong housing delivery, a five year supply
of housing land and a well-developed Infrastructure Plan. Funding mechanisms, including a Community Infrastructure Levy, S106 commitments and central government funding for transport improvements and new schools are all in place to bring forward the infrastructure required to support new development.
Dartford has experienced its fourth year of housing completions significantly in excess of local housing need. There were 1,010 completions in 2018/19, approximately double the long running average for Dartford and well in excess of the housing need figure of 797p.a, as calculated using the government’s standard methodology. The high levels of demand and confidence in the area are evidenced by the rapid sale of new homes once on the market.
Crossrail 1 (Elizabeth Line) tube services are due to be provided to Abbey Wood Station, just 12 minutes train travel from Dartford Railway Station. Working in partnership with Transport for London, Bexley Council and Kent authorities, Dartford Council is lobbying to build on this connectivity with the proposed ‘C2E’ rail project. The government has
Proposal for public realm improvements Market Street, Dartford.
recently committed £4.85M to develop a business case in support of the scheme. If implemented, this would extend Elizabeth Line services from Canary Wharf, the West End and Heathrow beyond Abbey Wood, through Dartford to connect with Ebbsfleet International’s High Speed One services to London St Pancras and continental Europe.
The Borough will also benefit from the prospective Lower Thames Crossing. This will cross the river east of Tilbury and Gravesend, linking the M25 near North Ockenden, Essex, with the A2 near Shorne. It is programmed to be complete by 2027 and will relieve the Dartford Crossing and increase the resilience of the surrounding road network.
Designs are being finalised for the A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet junction improvements, with a Public Inquiry due in autumn 2019 and a proposed start on site in 2020. The improvements will help support planned development, supporting jobs and housing growth in North Kent.
Progress has been made in taking forward private and public investment in Dartford town centre. The Dartford Town Centre Framework was adopted in July 2018. It sets an expectation for a high standard of development in the town centre, identifies improvement projects and provides design guidelines for key development sites. The opportunity for around 5,000 new homes in and around the town centre will significantly increase demand for retail and leisure provision locally. Private investment on key sites providing
new leisure and retail facilities is being complemented
by £12m of public funding for transport and public realm improvements, providing a much enhanced and pedestrian friendly area for shopping and leisure activities in the town. Work commenced on the first phase of the scheme in May 2019 and is to be complete by March 2020. This will create an attractive landscaped area linking the High Street with Central Park. Revamping of the High Street will follow along with further phases of the improvement works.
Dartford has been successful in its initial bid for Future High Streets Funding. It is one of 50 local authorities which will have the opportunity to share in the £675m pot. The bid is focused on re-purposing surplus retail space to other town centre uses. The council is working closely with its town centre partners to develop the bid through to the next stage.
Residential development immediately to the north of the town centre at Langley Square and Phoenix Quarter, proved very popular with new home buyers, with approximately 900 homes already occupied and around 400 under construction. There is strong developer interest in this
area and further sites are expected to be brought forward. On the southern edge of the town centre, at Lowfield
St, construction has begun on the first two phases of a mixed use development comprising 1,500m2 (16,146ft2) of retail and community floorspace, offices and 550 homes overlooking Central Park with a micro-brewery and café facing on to a public square.
A planning application is anticipated at the end of 2019 for the site on Hythe St/Westgate St in the heart of the town centre. The HCA/Council owned site, being brought forward with development partner Muse, will significantly enhance the town centre’s leisure and retail offer with proposals including a six screen cinema, 3,500m2 (37,674ft2) of
bars, restaurants and shops and a new public square. The development also proposes 140 new homes and a 109 bedroom hotel. Provision of a health hub is also being progressed.
Early phases of the 30,000m2 (322,917ft2) expansion
of Bluewater Regional Shopping Centre have been implemented providing larger retail units within the centre. Extension of the existing cinema complex was completed in 2018 providing restaurant facilities (Class A3) and cinema/
24 Kent Property Market Report 2019
PHOTO: PROJECT CENTRE