Plans for UK’s largest cycling park receive go ahead

Planning approval has been granted for the new A2 Activity Park near Gravesend, featuring an innovative visitor pavilion designed by Canterbury architectural practice, Clague.

Designed for Kent County Council, who are leading on the overall project as part of their regeneration of Kent Thameside within the Thames Gateway, the pavilion is the centre-piece of the new, 43 acre facility located adjacent to the A2 trunk road on the southern side of Gravesend and Northfleet. The land became available following the realignment of the road and the park is set to become the UK’s largest cycling park.

Clague’s winning design for the pavilion will meet BREEAM ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ standards. It is expected to include renewable energy generation facilities on site to meet at least 10% of its power requirements. The sleek, modern pavilion will house a café, youth and community meeting area, gym and multi-use area for exercise, dance workshops and activities. The building is being designed to a tight budget, but with high quality and durable components to cope with the expected high user demand.

The Activity Park has the support of British Cycling, British Triathlon and many local clubs and provides a venue for professional cycling and outdoor activities with landscaped public access. It will be a valuable facility both for the Gravesham borough and the wider community in Kent and the South-East. From the visitor pavilion an avenue leads to a garden and play area and a pedestrian bridge leads to a central activity space, an all-weather Cycle Sports Circuit, a BMX track and an international standard skate park.

The park facility also includes grassed open space, an orchard with sculpture, a meadow, mountain bike trails, cycle tracks, a natural play area and a children's cycle play area.

The park design will be implemented by Jacobs UK engineers. The structural and sustainability consultants are Aecom. Construction is due to start in 2010 and the project is expected to be complete for 2012.

More information about Clague is available by visiting clague.co.uk.