81.000 sqm
UK
2011
Eight nautical miles from the mouth of the River Medway, Chatham Docks is laid out over 132 acres of what was once a naval dockyard. In recent years, the site’s infrastructure has been significantly improved by new rail and road links to Gillingham and its potential for regeneration enhanced by the proximity of developments such as The Historic Dockyard visitor attraction.
Dyer’s detailed masterplan envisages the long-term phased redevelopment of the docks as a high-density community mixing housing with a hotel, offices, foodstore and car parking. The first phase takes in around 20 acres of flagship development at the site’s main entrance. The entirely new-build development is centred on a series of tall buildings and is primarily residential-led, providing a viable mix of type and tenure. Five residential towers of between 10 and 29 storeys comprise over 800 apartments of 1-3 bedrooms, with a mix of both private and affordable/social ownership. In addition, there is a terrace of 3-4 bed houses (with flats above), ten ‘floating’ houses (with decks and moorings) and two blocks of student accommodation (comprising 230 units in total). Amenities for the new community include a 1,400m2 supermarket while economic development centres on three office towers and a 100-bed leisure hotel with swimming pool.
