A masterplan has been developed for future of Gravesend town centre in partnership with Homes England.
Gravesham Borough Council has partnered with Homes England in the development of a comprehensive masterplan for the future regeneration of Gravesend town centre, including the possible acquisition and redevelopment of high-profile stalled brownfield sites.
In a report to Cabinet on Monday night, 22 June, members were told officers had been working with funding of more than £9 million and support from Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, to review the development feasibility of a number of council-owned sites within Gravesend town centre.
Further funding has been made available by Homes England to explore the potential of privately owned development sites, particularly stalled brownfield sites. This is in addition to £1.25 million put aside in this year’s council budget for the potential acquisition of such sites.
The report highlighted that the work completed so far had established:
- a regeneration framework and town centre vision which puts local amenities and quality of place first;
- a strategic case for investment in town centre brownfield housing sites;
- a potential pipeline of around 1,300 homes in the town centre, with 162 homes deliverable within three years subject to funding, and a further 432 which could start on site by 2029;
- the need for a multi-storey car park and dynamic parking strategy to support the housing pipeline;
- a potential new location for a Civic Centre designed to attract footfall and activity towards the river;
- opportunities for strategic land acquisition to further bolster and support the delivery programme.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr John Burden, Leader of Gravesham Borough Council, said:
“This work has been undertaken in close collaboration with Homes England, to whom we are grateful. The £9 million support from them includes funding for the masterplanning work and to support delivery of The Charter development.”
The first phase of The Charter is now at near full occupancy, and the subsequent phases, including a multi-storey car park, will be completed during 2026.
Cllr Burden added: “We are also preparing a full business case for submission to Homes England during 2026/27 showing how we can unlock significant further investment in housing delivery as well as commercial and community facilities.
“Top of the list for that is the freeing up of high-profile stalled brownfield sites in the town centre area.
“While much of the work on this is commercially sensitive limiting what we can say, officers continue to work with the owners of all of these sites on what is needed to unlock them.
“I can say a priority for us is the former Maternity Hospital site, known as M-Block, in Bath Street, which is currently in the hands of receivers.”
Cllr Burden added the council was working with a local registered provider of social housing and their development partner to bring forward a scheme for housing and local health facilities on that site.
He added “We have been clear that should the receiver not work proactively with ourselves, the developer and local housing association to realise this ambition, this council will use our CPO powers against the receiver to secure the site.
“Our draft Local Plan which is currently out for Regulation 19 consultation has been developed on a brownfield first basis, and our partnership with Homes England is an important part of that ambition.”