Medway has been praised for its efforts to regenerate the area, and for trying to improve the opportunities of its residents. Stephen Wilkinson, who is part of the Royal Town Planning Institute has visited regeneration sites across Medway on Thursday 9th March. Councilors and local planning officers from Medway Council met Wilkinson in order to show him round their redevelopment projects in Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham.
The Rochester project is located at Rochester Riverside and is connected to the historic heart of Rochester. The project is expected to provide around 1,300 residential units built to a high-standard and will include residential housing. The President of the Royal Town Planning Institute saw the 21-hectare development site that will have open spaces and a riverside walk. The development will also include a new primary school, leisure facilities, office space, shops and restaurant.
Stephen Wilkinson was also shown round the redevelopment of the former Royal Dockyard. This Chatham Maritime development will see the redevelopment take place near its world recognised Historic Dockyard. The area has a residential area, restaurants, leisure and retail space as well as office units. There is an education quarter which consists of four universities and MidKent College which provides spaces for more than 11,000 students in Medway. There are community facilities in the residential area of St Mary’s Island. However, the commercial section of Chatham Docs, and the location for University Technical College will soon have phase one of a high-quality waterfront residential development.
The Councilors and local planning officers were able to present the new developments that go toward regenerating the waterfront areas and provide new housing for the area. This redevelopment will provide new opportunities for residents and businesses. It is thought that this work will also provide a boost to the economy. The work carried out is being done in a way that focuses on providing sustainable development to the area.