Chatham Waterfront

Chatham has proved to be a highly successful regeneration and is now entering a new phase. Chatham historic wharf has obtained planning permission for a £25 million mixed use scheme as the first stage of awider development of the Chatham Waterfront. It will be developed by a combination of Medway Council, A2 Dominion Housing and Watts Charity and will have an 80 bedroom hotel, leisure and commercial space in an area which has been attracting an increasing flow of tourists.

New shops in Luton and Basildon

One sign that the pressure of the recession is easing is that two major towns are likely to get major new shopping facilities. Basildon Council is pushing ahead with the big mixed use scheme in the town centre now that the Barratt/Bowden Wilson joint venture has been appointed to carry it out. This will have 51,979 sq.metres (559,520 sq.ft.) of retailing and leisure and slightly more than that for offices. There will also be 1,900 residential units together with enhanced civic facilities and infrastructure improvements.

A spokesman for the developers said: “Basildon is a good place to invest, with great potential for growth.” In Luton, British Land is expected to take over the stalled £200 million PowerCourt retail development from Ballymore, which owns around 40% of the site, the rest being with the council and the Environment Agency. The plan is expected to have 46,450 sq.metres (500,000 sq.ft.) of retailing and 200 homes.