A public consultation is underway for revised plans to build a mixed-use development in Rochester town centre. Property developer Donard Affordable Homes has revealed proposals for 374 homes at Bardell Wharf, located on the corner of Star Hill and Rochester High Street. The disused site could see a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats across four buildings, including ground floor commercial space, with at least 25% affordable housing. A total of 253 car parking spaces are proposed and at least 50% of spaces will have electric vehicle charging points. All homes are set to have private amenity space, either as a balcony or terrace, while a new landscaped 14-metre wide pedestrian route through the site would also be created. The homes will be low-cost and energy-efficient, generating up to 60% less carbon than required by current building regulations, benefitting from air source heat pump systems and photovoltaic panels. Donard Affordable Homes would work alongside registered housing providers to manage and operate the new homes. Medway Council granted planning permission for 331 homes and more than 20,000 sq ft of commercial space on the same site in 2019. The original plans were devised by landowner Classicus Estates and developer Quinn Estates, although no work began despite gaining approval. Estate agent Kingsbury Stone marketed the freehold of the site a year later, inviting offers in excess of £8 million. The first four phases of the original development sold for £7,020,000 last year, while the fifth phase was separately acquired for £1,275,000. Rochester Independent College will deliver an 85-bedroom four-storey student accommodation block as part of the fifth phase, which will include a café, common room and laundry room. A consultation is now underway inviting local stakeholders to have their say on the revised plans, which have been designed by Pod Architects.
Donard Affordable Homes is hoping to submit a planning application later this summer, with a decision by Medway Council's planning committee expected in the autumn. If planning permission is granted, the developer says building work could start in spring 2023 and complete in 2025. Bardell Wharf is one of the latest schemes by Donard Affordable Homes, which has a growing pipeline of future projects that will see it deliver up to 3,000 new homes a year. It is also currently progressing developments in Chatham, Basildon, Watford and Salford. Paul Thornton, director at Donard Affordable Homes, said: “Our proposals revise the original planning permission, giving a greater range of homes and more landscaped open space. "We’re looking forward to sharing the plans with the community and hope to meet many of you during our drop-in exhibition.” A public exhibition is being held between 2pm and 8pm this Wednesday (25 May) at The Royal Function Rooms in Star Hill, Rochester. View the proposals and make comments by visiting the project's website before the consultation ends on 17 June 2022.
Steve Butler
25/5/2022 19:06:30
These will not be affordable, I cannot afford £300,000 for a 2 bed flat, and that's the going rate at the moment for a brand new 2 bed flat Comments are closed.
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