People are being urged to have their say on proposals to redevelop the disused Trafalgar Centre and multi-storey car park in Chatham. The plans could see the large town centre site demolished and replaced by 200 flats across three buildings, as well as co-working offices and creative space for artists on the ground floor. Kent-based developers Terance Butler Holdings (TBH) are behind the proposals, after it purchased the empty shopping centre and recently-vacated NCP car park for £2.87 million in June last year. A consultation is currently underway inviting residents and other local stakeholders to have their say on the plans. Early designs for the site include the creation of a courtyard space with a new pedestrian link to the High Street, landscape improvements, on-site renewable energy generation and electric vehicle charging points. Improvements will also be made to the appearance of the multi-storey car park behind the Trafalgar Centre, which recently saw operator NCP quit its lease of the 261-space facility. The developer intends to retain around 175 of those parking spaces, although it is not yet clear whether these will be for continued public use or for the residents of the proposed flats. Medway Council's masterplan for Chatham town centre from 2019 said any future redevelopment of the Trafalgar Centre needed to be "carefully considered" alongside plans for the Pentagon Shopping Centre. The developer behind the Trafalgar Centre scheme says its plan will support the redevelopment of brownfield land and provide new, high quality residential accommodation in a sustainable location. TBH claims this will increase footfall in the town centre and assist with ambitions for the town's regeneration whilst supporting local shops and services. Construction of a second “anchor” building in Chatham High Street will compliment proposals for nearby Mountbatten House, it added, which will undergo a multi-million-pound regeneration project starting next year. It also believes that the addition of more creative space as part of its proposals will "enhance and strengthen" the existing Nucleus Arts Centre next door to the Trafalgar Centre. Trafalgar Centre permanently closed in 2013 and has sat derelict ever since.
The 50,000 sq ft property was initially built in the 1960s as a Fine Fare supermarket before closing in 1987 to later become the InShops complex, housing small shops and stall holders under one roof. It was earmarked to be redeveloped into "new, high quality boutique shops" in 2010, although those plans never materialised. Further information about the plans for Trafalgar Centre can be viewed online by clicking here. Comments and opinions can also be directly submitted to the developer via email to [email protected] by Monday, 6 December.
E
29/11/2021 12:02:20
I understand these developments are required as the need for housing is high. However what about providing more facilities for the bodies that will be filling these flats. Medway hospital can’t even cope with the population in the area already. People struggle as it is the get GP appointments. Schools struggle to provide space the kids that are local to them already. Will the transport links be improved? As these people won’t have space to park a car? And not everyone can afford to shop in Sainsbury’s which isn’t even a large store, will a need super market be provided? Because if people don’t have cars it is going to be a struggle to do a weekly shop. And are these flats even going to house people that already live and work in the local area or people who work in London as it is cheap for them. No more flats should be approved until the above points mentioned are sorted, otherwise it will be a downward spiral which the council can’t get themselves out of. And they won’t be looking after the already residence of Medway.
ME20 7DX
1/12/2021 16:30:58
This will cause too much of an overload of flats in Medway which will resolute in 1. prices will stigmatize and possible come down,2 will cause a lot of petty crime because if not left empty by investors will be rented out to those on government agencies housing benefits.There are already too many riverside flats that have been built in Medway for this to happen in the furture .
Natalie
7/12/2021 09:58:39
This is getting beyond a joke, the high street needs more shops not flats, tons of flats are being developed all over Chatham, it does not need anymore!
Natalie
7/12/2021 10:05:35
We need more doctors surgeries, that is the one thing that needs urgently sorting, not more flats for more people in already overcrowded doctors surgeries.
Rebecca
7/12/2021 11:42:23
This is rediculous, we have enough flats popping up all over Medway, we need more for the community, doctors surgeries, a supermarket, or maybe even something for kids to enjoy. There are so many other things you could do with this space instead of building more flats. We need something to help those already living here, instead of further increasing chathams population where our resources are already way overstretched.
Karen
7/12/2021 15:48:13
There was a supermarket there. It didn't get used, and therefore ended up closing down.
Karen Arnold
7/12/2021 15:46:29
I think it could be a good thing. We need houses...why not here? Better here than digging up a green space for more houses/flats. I also like the idea of the creative space! This is what we need more of. However, like everyone else is saying, we need the infrastructure around it too such as GP surgeries (preferably with GPs that see their patients), and the flats need to have a lot of parking. Parking is becoming a big problem everywhere now to be proactive about it and include enough spaces for each flat to have at least 2. Very few households only have one car these days. Comments are closed.
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