Deal agreed to restart building on 22,000 home Kent development

Developer Land Securities reached a deal with the three local councils to renegotiate the section 106 agreement planning obligations. The development was originally halted due to concerns over the cost and the need for further investment in transport improvements.

Under the agreement, Land Securities has agreed to deliver the first phase of the brownfield development by 2020, which includes 1,500 new homes at Eastern Quarry. A further 3,000 new homes are planned to be completed by 2030 – 2031.

The development plans for Eastern Quarry form part of wider regeneration plans, which are aimed at unlocking the development of 22,600 scheme and around 1 million square metres of commercial development across the Kent Thameside region over the next 20 years.

Kent County Council, Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils worked closely with the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency to reduce costs of the transport programme and to agree how funding could be unlocked.

Under the agreed arrangements the Department for Transport and Highways Agency will begin development work on two major junction improvements and will work with Kent County Council and the Kent Thameside partners in managing the transport investment programme necessary to deliver the new developments.

The deal was also worked on by Housing Minister Grant Shapps and Transport Minister Mike Penning. Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils will ensure that contributions from Land Securities and other sites are provided to support the transport improvement programme, and that they and Kent County Council use a proportion of their New Homes Bonus payments to contribute to the programme.

"It's frustrating that while the need for homes in Kent and the surrounding area has continued to grow, the Kent Thameside development - offering the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes - has been stuck on the drawing board for a whole decade," said Shapps. "So I'm delighted that we're finally taking steps forward to get builders on site and work finally started." 

"This historic deal offers a double benefit to the local area, a commitment to improve the road network but also to deliver over 22,600 properties over the next 20 years - with the first homes set to be completed in little over a year from now," he said.

Under the agreement, Land Securities has agreed to contribute nearly £25m towards the Homes and Roads Programme and will aim to complete 4,500 homes on the site by 2020.

"Getting this significant development underway and built out signals our continued intent to increase construction activity in Kent," said Paul Carter, leader of Kent County Council. "We have real growth ambitions and this site signifies our intent to unlock the potential of the Thames Gateway."

"Where sites are stalled we will talk to developers about ways of releasing sites in the short term. However we will only work with those that are intent on accelerating development," said Carter.