Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, and The Hyde Group (Hyde) have received planning consent from Medway Council for Phases 4 and 5 of Rochester Riverside. These latest phases will deliver 353 new homes at the joint-venture’s £419m regeneration scheme in Kent, which is being developed in partnership with Medway Council and Homes England.
Designed by architects BPTW, Phases 4 and 5 will deliver 353 new homes, comprising 115 houses and 238 apartments, built by Vistry under its Countryside Homes brand. 79 of the apartments will be provided as affordable homes with the remaining tenure split to be finalised. New commercial units will be also delivered, including a new nursery, while there will be ample car and cycle parking, and innovative public spaces, including an extension to the new 2.5km river walk and green spaces that enhance connectivity with the historic Rochester High Street. Building upon the scheme’s established design principles, Phases 4 & 5 will further develop distinct designs that respond to the area’s industrial heritage.
With planning consent now granted, the joint venture expects construction of Phases 4 & 5 to start at the end of 2025. The detailed planning application for Phases 4 & 5 follows an original hybrid planning application for up to 1,400 new homes at Rochester Riverside, which was approved in February 2018.
Phases 4 & 5 will build on the success of the completed phases at Rochester Riverside. So far, 502 new homes have been delivered to new residents, as well as the two-form entry Rochester Riverside CofE Primary School, a new plaza surrounded by a Co-op, Costa and Travelodge hotel, and public open space including a river walkway. A retirement living facility has also been completed, owned and operated by Anchor, which is due to welcome its first residents later this year.
Private homes are currently available for sale from £434,995 at Phase 7 through Countryside Homes, where a new four-bedroom show home and two-bedroom show apartment opened to the public this March.
Brendan Evans, Managing Director for Vistry Kent, said: “Receiving approval for Phases 4 & 5 enables us to continue delivering new homes and amenities at Rochester Riverside, which has been so well received by the local community thanks to its beautiful architecture and well-integrated community facilities. In partnership with Hyde we have already transformed much of this previously derelict site and in doing so created a new riverside community with over 500 mixed-tenure homes so far.
We look forward to continuing this transformation and continuing to open up new areas along the River Medway for the first time. The 353 new homes in these latest phases will help meet the considerable demand for new homes in the area, and as well as maintaining the project’s momentum ahead of the final phase of Rochester Riverside being submitted for planning next year, which will complete this exemplary regeneration scheme.”
Mike Finch, Hyde’s Regional Development Director said: “This ground-breaking regeneration project is transforming the area, meeting urgent local housing needs. You can already see a vibrant neighbourhood, which so many people are already calling home.
“Our focus has always been on creating a community where people can feel secure and thrive, offering affordable homes that provide stability for both families and individuals.”