The futures bright in North Kent

The Chairman of Countryside Properties, Alan Cherry CBE DL, has set out an encouraging vision for the future of development in North Kent, despite the current economic circumstances.

Speaking at Construction Expo 2008, organised by North Kent Construction Skills and held this week at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Alan Cherry stated that the economic opportunities arising out of the wholesale regeneration of the area would bring major benefits to new and existing communities.

Countryside Properties is investing £510million in North Kent both to create new communities and enhance those already in existence. Recognising that North Kent is one of the best transport corridors in the UK through the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), the Group's investment will create communities that are sustainable socially, environmentally and economically.

In a joint venture with Land Securities, the Group has sold its first homes at its highly significant Ebbsfleet Valley development, Springhead Park, which will eventually provide over 600 mixed-tenure homes with parkland and open space, together with a community centre and place of worship, a doctor's surgery, and proposed primary school. The new community is already benefiting from its proximity to Ebbsfleet International Station, as part of the CTRL, with its fast services to Paris and Brussels and the European network beyond, and will benefit further when domestic services commence in late 2009.

A number of Countryside Properties' development projects have been hailed by central Government and industry as best practice examples, including Greenwich Millennium Village, London and St Mary's Island, Chatham Maritime, Kent. On St Mary's Island, Ventura Riverside, the latest phase of this impressive regeneration project, is the company's most eco-friendly scheme to date in Chatham. All new homes have been designed to achieve the highest EcoHomes rating of ‘Excellent'.

In addition, Waterstone Park, Greenhithe, Kent, was recently awarded a CABE Building for Life Silver Standard, the seventh CABE Award that Countryside Properties has received, for design and place making excellence, which is more than any other private developer. The Group is also delivering comprehensive estate regeneration schemes, working alongside local authorities and registered social landlords such as Moat at Christian Fields in Gravesend.

Future projects include further development in Sittingbourne at Great Easthall and new schemes in Chatham and Dartford. All help to increase the supply of much-needed new housing in North Kent.

For more information about Countryside Properties, log on to countryside-properties-corporate.com.