FUTURE DOCK PLANS

A packed meeting of residents, local businesses, councillors, and MPs was held at the House of Commons to launch the Save Chatham Docks Campaign’s masterplan for the future of the Docks.  The masterplan prepared by renowned architects SPPARC would create nearly 100,000 sqm of new industrial floorspace, creating approximately 2,500 new jobs at Chatham Docks making full use of the ports unique position as the only non-tidal dock in the South East.        

The plan was prepared to show the economic, social, and environmental benefits of keeping Chatham Docks as a working port and to respond to the Peel & Land & Property’s own plans that would close the Docks in order to redevelop the land for high density blocks of flats.  ArcelorMittal Kent Wire is prepared to deliver SPPARC’s plans.  Key components of SPPARC’s scheme are as follows:      

• Delivery of 97,330 sqm of modern, efficient, and sustainable flexible industrial space with 2435 jobs at the Docks.    
• Retention of the existing businesses within Chatham Docks, safeguarding the 800 jobs currently on-site, as well as the jobs in the supply chains.    
• Creation of a green landscaped riverfront route linking St Mary’s Island to the shops at Chatham Waters including a scenic pocket park next to the historic lock gates;    
• Enhancing the green buffer zone between Chatham Docks and the community of St Mary’s Island including the creation of a new publicly accessible green landscape above the Phase 01 buildings offering panoramic views across the Medway;     
• Upgrading of the port facilities including the erection of new piers to improve the efficiency of the basin whilst upgrading the lock gates, so that they could deliver the increased number of port movements, for which they were originally designed.       

Going forward the plans will now be presented to residents in Medway at a series of engagement events.

More details will be released soon...