In mid-November, we contacted the UK's largest parking provider - NCP (National Car Park) - regarding the status and progress of the former Trafalgar Centre site. The Trafalgar Centre was a large indoor market situated on the Eastern end of Chatham High Street opposite Iceland, housing many small businesses and independant traders, and even a cafetiria many years ago. However, due to "health and safety issues", the centre shut its doors for the final time in early 2014 - and has been empty ever since. Trafalgar Centre pictured in May 2014 shortly after its closure. (Media Courtesy: Google Maps) In previous years, Medway Council had aspirations to transform the indoor market into a new large supermarket, under regeneration plans for Chatham city centre. The abandoned building was soon put on the market after its closure by retail property consultants Blackstanniland, and no further news was reported ever since.
This however changed when a NCP customer response advisor responded to our enquiry on December 21, 2015. She exclusively revealed for us that there were "talks" currently taking place, regarding the vacant building. Laura Woolley, NCP Customer Response Advisor, told us: "I have heard back from the managers in that area who have informed me that there are currently talks taking place with a party who are interested in using the Trafalgar Centre." We will be keeping in contact with NCP and the Council to identify plans for the Trafalgar Centre, whilst also observing any physical changes to the site in the near future. Brooke Homes is set to start work on an exciting new eco-friendly development - Capstone Green. Work on this large scale project is set to begin in January 2016, on the former Southern Water site along Capstone Road in Chatham. Boasting contemporary town houses and apartments, Capstone Green will be the perfect place to live for commuters, young couples and families. The development will consist of 110 new homes set in a beautiful location, with three and four bed houses, and one, two and three bed apartments with 193 car parking spaces and assosiated soft landscaping. Capstone Green will feature beautiful, eco-friendly town houses and apartments situated less than an hour from Central London. Located on Capstone Road and approximately 1.4 miles south-east of Chatham town centre, Capstone Green will appeal to first-time buyers, young couples/families, London commuters, employees of the nearby universities and also those already established on the property ladder but looking for an investment.
Capstone Green will be constructed using a new and innovative building method which is considerably kinder to the environment than traditional procedures. It also means that these new homes will have significantly increased energy efficiency and greater sound insulation. You can find out more about the Capstone Green development by visiting the dedicated section on the Brooke Homes online website. In recent months, the future of the Luton Arches area has been picking up at great speed and is looking positive, with exciting plans revealed by Arches Local, as well as some works already taking place to improve the area. Also, guttering replacement works took place in early November, marking the first significant steps to regenerating the area. Ourselves and Arches Local have contacted Network Rail sharing local people's concerns regarding the deceased pigeons caught in the bird netting, and the poor environment including the litter, overgrown vegetation and fly-tipping. In late November, we once again got in touch with Network Rail relating to the damaged, crumbling brickwork at the Arches. Media Source: Geograph Our team pass the Luton Arches regularly and we have noticed the crumbling brickwork, with some bricks even missing, and in much need of repointing and repairing. Following our e-mail to Network Rail, they responded to us revealing exclusively that a 'renewal project' at the Luton Arches was planned at some point during 2017/18.
A Network Rail spokesperon said: "We have a renewal project planned for this location in 2017/18. The renewal works will include steelwork repair, strengthening, preventative painting and brickwork repair. The issues you raised will be dealt with as part of this renewal." We have also been informed that Arches Local will be revealing more exciting new sketches of what the area can look like in the future, and they met with a Network Rail representitive to discuss the current issues in early December. You can find out more about the regeneration project at the Luton Arches by having a look at our dedicated page for the area. |
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August 2023
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