Plans approved for new Bellway development in Hoo St Werburgh

Bellway will soon begin work at a development of new homes which will generate investment worth over £2.3m for Hoo St Werburgh.

Medway Council has granted full planning permission for a development of 232 new homes on land to the south of Ratcliffe Highway.

The development will be called Nightingale Rise and it will feature a range of one to four-bedroom homes once complete.

The site is home to the former Rochester Sports and Social Club which closed in 2014 after unsuccessful attempts to run the club profitably. A number of buildings and sports pitches associated with the club have been disused since, and an active bowling green at the site will also be retained as part of the development. An additional 29 parking spaces will also be provided for users of the bowling green.

As part of the planning agreement for the site, Bellway will be making a number of financial contributions towards improvements to services in the area.

Over £880,000 will be invested in education, £530,000 will go towards sports facilities and £544,000 will be spent on improvements to green spaces. A further £108,000 will go towards community facilities and £108,000 will be invested in NHS facilities in the area. Contributions will also be made towards highways improvements, bird disturbance mitigation measures and waste and recycling.

Sales Director for Bellway’s Kent division, Mark Harrop, said the housebuilder was looking forward to getting started on site.
He said: “Hoo St Werburgh is an area we know very well after our previous developments in the village, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to help meet demand for homes in the area.

“This is a development which will revitalise a site which has fallen into disuse, and provide a wide variety of high-quality homes for buyers up and down the property ladder.

“The homes here have been designed to mimic the existing architecture in the area to ensure that the development fits well within its surroundings, and we’re also pleased to be able to retain the bowling green at the development, which is a brilliant community facility.

“We’re looking forward to getting on site shortly and beginning construction at Nightingale Rise, and we can’t wait to see the development take shape over the next few months.”

Work at Nightingale Rise will begin shortly, and the first homes are expected to be released for sale in Summer 2018.

For more information about Bellway’s developments in the area, go to bellway.co.uk.