Countryside and Hyde signed a development agreement with Medway Council and HCA to develop Rochester Riverside, a 30 hectare site which adjoins Rochester’s historic town centre and new railway station.
Countryside, The Hyde Group, Medway Council and The HCA have announced that a £400m development agreement to regenerate Rochester Riverside in Kent has been signed. The development will wee the creation of around 1,300 new homes, of which 25 percent will be affordable housing.
Rochester Riverside will also provide a new community based primary school, a nursery, leisure and healthcare facilities, workspace, two hotels and a number of retail units, together with four hectares of open space including a 2.5 km riverside walkway. Homes will range from detached riverside houses to affordable one bedroom apartments with 50 percent of the new homes comprising of family sized accommodation.
Countryside and Hyde will be the joint home builders of the scheme with Hyde taking on the long-term management and maintenance of the affordable homes. The design team is led by HTA and BPTW.
Cllr Rodney Chambers, Medway’s Council’s Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment, Strategic Regeneration and Partnership said: “This is a really important step for our flagship regeneration project which will further enhance the riverside and support the economic regeneration of Medway. The proposed development is set to boost the local economy providing new jobs, shops and facilities.
“Rochester Riverside is a major part of our ambitious 20-year regeneration plan for Medway, helping us to meet the needs of Medway’s growing population, with more homes, a new school and other much needed amenities, all well connected to the historic heart of Rochester and the new railway station.”
Andy Fancy, Operations Director of Countryside’s Partnerships South division said: “We are very excited to be involved in the Rochester Riverside project and are looking forward to working with Medway Council, HCA and Hyde to regenerate the area. We share an ambition with the Council to redevelop the current sites whilst placing people at the heart of the process.”
David Gannicott, Group Business Development Director at Hyde said: “Our aspiration, that guides everything we do, is to provide a great home for everyone. As we enter our 50th birthday year, we want to build as many new homes as possible and we are committed to giving people who are left behind by the housing market a roof over their head. We are delighted to be working with Countryside, Medway Council and the HCA to help create a thriving community here at Rochester.”
Neil Miller, Senior Development Manager Thames Gateway, Homes and Communities Agency said: “Countryside and Hyde submitted a high quality proposal for the site and we look forward to working with them as our development partner for Rochester Riverside.”
