Page 44 - KPRM 2019

Kent County Council, Medway Council & Kent’s District Council Commentary
Infrastructure and Regeneration
Continued
The Kent and Medway Planning Protocol is an important initiative, that reflects best practice and improvements
to the planning system, delivering on our promises, but
it requires regular review. There has been a great deal of partnership working with East Sussex and Essex to share best practice and helping them produce their own versions of the document and we are now about to engage with our stakeholders to refresh and develop an enhanced Kent and Medway Planning Protocol.
Ebbsfleet Garden City
Ebbsfleet Garden City continues to go from strength to strength. So far, 1,700 homes have been completed – that means approximately 3627 residents are now calling Ebbsfleet Garden City their home. There are 15 active delivery partners working in the Garden City, delivering a whole range of homes from affordable to five-bedroom market sale homes.
Work has started on almost 600 homes by Keepmoat on the banks of the River Thames in Northfleet. Almost 40 per cent of these homes will be affordable.
Nearby, Berkeley will open its new modular homes factory which promises to be state-of-the-art and will produce a range of modular housing designed to a high specification and excellent build standards.
Redrow recently moved its south east headquarters to the Garden City, further strengthening the area’s reputation as a great place for business.
The Development Corporation’s planning committee approved design codes and masterplans for two villages which will complete the area formerly known as Eastern Quarry and now known as Whitecliffe. These will shape
street design, public realm and street planting and give clear guidance on the future look of Ebbsfleet Garden City.
Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is also progressing its plans for a city centre which will be built around Ebbsfleet International Station and will provide significant employment opportunities. So far, the corporation has invested more than £100m into vital infrastructure such as a ground-breaking electricity deal which ensures a future supply to the area and early next year, the corporation will open Springhead Bridge, providing a vital link to residents of Springhead Park to the international train station.
Kent County Council Property
KCC’s Infrastructure Team has an extensive and wide- ranging involvement in the county’s property market which helps support the local economy and provide employment opportunities across the county.
The county council needs sustainable and well-maintained infrastructure and assets. KCC has an ambitious capital programme to develop and deliver key infrastructure projects and explore alternative funding models, including land value capture. It aims to maximise value from its property portfolio, reinvesting receipts from disposal of surplus assets. Resource pressures necessitate the need to participate in increasingly competitive bidding for external funding and investment. In 2018-19, KCC completed over 30 major development projects totalling over £90m of capital spend, the majority of which was for schools.
Approximately £7.9m of land and property assets were realised from the KCC estate, principally for new housing development and employment generation. These receipts will be reinvested in the council’s capital development programme. The Disposals Team also work closely with partners such as the NHS in bringing forward schemes that deliver public benefit as well as generating reinvestment capital for KCC to invest in its services.
An example is surplus land in North Kent being considered for an exciting development with a GP facility. This will also release land for residential development. With the NHS in West Kent, and an adjoining private sector landowner, a comprehensive residential development incorporating a medical hub is being brought forward. Further projects in the pipeline include:
Maidstone East Development
Kent County Council acquired the 3.42acre former Royal Mail Sorting Office at 98 Sandling Road in 2016 with its 50/50 partner Maidstone Borough Council. The partners are developing a master plan to create a new urban quarter in the town centre opposite County Hall incorporating Network Rail land and the county Council’s Cantium House.
The vision is to provide around 500 new homes, over 800m2 (8,611ft2) of retail floorspace and almost 5,500m2 (59,201ft2) of office accommodation. The borough council’s aspirations are to relocate to the scheme once complete, possibly with other public service providers. Asset management of the site as part of a short-term holding strategy includes using it for parking and short-term lettings.
Maximising Returns through exploring partnership
with the Private Sector
The County Council will seek private sector partner(s)
to develop an innovative Property Delivery Model. It has substantial and diverse assets and is looking to explore their development (with or without service provision elements), maximising value and return to the Council. The strategic development partner(s) will work with KCC to identify opportunities from its land holdings. Detailed requirements are being developed and its intentions are to hold a series of market testing discussions with interested potential bidders. A Prior Information Notice was issued to potential development partners indicating KCC’s intent to go out to market in due course.
Live Margate
Last year KCC reported on this coastal regeneration project. The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) supports the project through GPF funding working closely with its partner Thanet District Council. Kent County Council is keen to deliver appropriate residential accommodation onto the market in line with their No Use Empty (NUE) initiative. Part of phase one,12a Dalby Square was an award-winning example for multi-generational and environmentally sustainable living delivered through this project.
Javelin Way, Ashford
The County Council has secured planning approval for the development of 29 commercial units as the enabling development, providing capital receipts to part-fund (with
42 Kent Property Market Report 2019