A derelict indoor shopping market in Chatham High Street has been acquired for £2.87 million, it has emerged. Aylesford-based TBH Real Estate Investments Ltd bought the former Trafalgar Centre and the multi-storey car park behind the disused building last June. It is understood that National Car Parks (NCP), who operates the multi-storey car park in Rhode Street, continues to own the leasehold of the 50,000 sq ft property. Trafalgar Centre permanently closed in December 2013 due to 'safety concerns' and has stood empty ever since. Built in the early 1960s, Trafalgar Centre was initially a Fine Fare supermarket until its closure in 1987. The building later became an InShops indoor shopping market in around 1990, which was occupied by several independent small businesses. The InShops complex was anchored by a fast food dining area and a Kwik Save discount supermarket until the early 2000s, before rebranding to Trafalgar Centre. InShops Centres Ltd entered liquidation in January 2014, after experiencing significant financial losses as a result of declining occupancy levels and rising costs. Property consultants Blackstanniland marketed the property's sublease in 2015 on behalf of NCP, who owned Trafalgar Centre at the time. Medway Council's latest Chatham Town Centre Masterplan suggests the site and its surroundings could be appropriate for a new 'Creative Hub' with arts & culture facilities, cafes, restaurants and student accommodation.
No plans for Trafalgar Centre have been revealed yet. Attempts to contact TBH Real Estate Investments were made, however, no response was received. NCP declined to comment on the acquisition. Chatham's abandoned luxury housing estate, The Hamiltons, sells for nearly £2.4 million at auction8/6/2021
An unfinished development of 'luxurious contemporary styled' homes overlooking Chatham has been sold at auction. The Hamiltons, a private gated estate of 16 four-bed houses in Upper Luton Road, was purchased by an unknown bidder for £2,357,000 - more than double its £1.1 million guide price. Of the 16 houses, only three were ever fully completed and sold, with the rest either mostly complete or built to bare blockwork and concrete internals. AMG Chatham Ltd, the Kent-based property firm behind the development, fell into administration in June 2019, bringing construction work to a halt. Planning permission for The Hamiltons was first granted by Medway Council in 2015. A glimpse of hope surfaced when an initial strategy was drawn up by the administrators Smith & Williamson to complete all the outstanding work and then sell the houses. However, an independent assessment on behalf of the administrators early last year revealed a number of unexpected "serious concerns" about the work already completed and additional work required, according to a report. This prevented any further work other than urgent jobs to be carried out, while the three occupied houses were vacated and taken back into the control of the administrators in the meantime. The Hamiltons was earmarked by AMG Chatham Ltd at the time to be a "remarkable" gated development that is "uniquely designed to maximise the amazing views over the Kentish countryside".
Each home was designed by JAA Architects to feature separate terraces at the first and second floors, as well as a fully accessible rooftop terrace providing panorama views across Chatham. The completed four-bed houses were also fitted with triple glazed windows, wired alarm systems and optional high efficiency under floor heating. In 2017, The Hamiltons scheme was shortlisted for the 'Best New Build' category in the Built Environment Awards. BidX1 hosted the online auction for the unfinished development at the end of last month on behalf of the administrators. It is not yet known when construction work will restart. Plans to relocate Medway's only Catholic secondary school from Chatham to Rochester have been approved. A new 'world-class' single campus will be built in City Way, Rochester, replacing the two sites in Chatham. Currently, Years 9 to 13 attend the main building in Ordnance Street, while Years 7 to 8 are based in Maidstone Road, known as the lower school. As well as standard teaching rooms the new school will also offer a wide range of facilities, including multi use games area (MUGA) pitches, a football pitch, a dance studio, gym and kiln room. The new school campus will have enough space to meet the needs of 900 pupils plus 285 sixth formers. The school currently has 833 pupils and the two sites in Chatham are considered run down, while the lease on the Maidstone Road site is due to expire in 2023. Construction work begins this month and should be completed in spring 2023. "We are determined to become a world-class school and our new school building is a significant step in getting there." Headteacher Dympna Lennon said: “I am proud to say that in the last few years St John Fisher has been transformed.
"We have seen a significant uplift in our results and our Ofsted rating. We are determined to become a world-class school and our new school building is a significant step in getting there. "This is an exciting new chapter for St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School. Moving to our new site will provide the outstanding facilities that our students, staff and community deserve.” Cllr Martin Potter, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools, said: “The new school building will provide a wonderful opportunity to improve the learning environment for pupils, enable the school to come together as one and strengthen community links. "The project also supports our ambition to become a Child-Friendly City, putting young people at the heart of everything we do." Wates Group, one of the UK's largest family owned construction, property services and development companies, will be building the new school. An Australian café chain has opened its ninth branch in the UK at Hempstead Valley, Gillingham. Jamaica Blue welcomed customers to its new "contemporary & on trend" café for the first time last week, which serves fresh breakfast, lunch and brunch meals. It took over the disused Burtons store to open the café, creating up to 15 new jobs. A spokesperson for Jamaica Blue said: "We are excited to open our 9th Jamaica Blue store in the UK.
"Jamaica Blue has built its foundations on two simple beliefs that have guided us in everything that we’ve done. Firstly, a belief in sourcing the very best coffee and secondly only using fresh, premium ingredients to deliver contemporary café dishes with a twist. "We can't wait to welcome the local Gillingham population in for a great 100% Arabica coffee and a high-quality breakfast, brunch or lunch, all in a beautiful modern setting." The new café is owned and operated by franchisee Mital Patel, with the nearest branch having previously been in Chelmsford. It is open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday and 9:30am to 4pm on Sundays. |
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August 2023
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