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7 February 2006
Moat and Countryside Properties Plc have submitted a planning application to Gravesham Borough Council for a £38m redevelopment of the Christian Fields estate in Gravesend, Kent.
The application comprises the master plan for the whole estate and detailed planning for 'Phase One', an area at the north end of Palmer Avenue. Subject to planning permission, construction of Phase One is expected to begin later this year.
The application is for 425 homes and will replace the existing Gravesham Borough Council properties. The mixed-tenure new homes at Christian Fields will comprise homes for rent and shared ownership, with 179 for rent to households nominated by the council.
Residents at Christian Fields have been involved in the new designs with local exhibitions and representation on planning groups. The proposed new homes reflect resident preferences for a traditional style of family home. Tenants who wish to stay at Christian Fields are guaranteed one of the new homes. Home owners on Christian Fields will be able to sell their homes to the developers at full market value. Those who wish to remain are offered an 'equity share' programme to ensure they can afford one of the new homes.
The new Christian Fields neighbourhood will meet 'Secure by Design' standards, reducing the potential for crime and nuisance by removing problems such as alleyways behind houses.
Michael Hill, Business Director for Countryside Properties Plc commented: "The submission of the planning application is the culmination of a great deal of work by Countryside Properties Plc, Moat, the local authority and residents. We are delighted to be able to deliver improved housing for the residents of Gravesend."
Countryside Properties Plc is already active in Kent Thameside and has delivered 201 homes at Waterstone Park, with work currently underway on the next phase. Countryside has also been appointed by Land Securities to deliver new homes and community facilities at Springhead, the first phase of development at Ebbsfleet.
Moat Director of New Business and Development, Chris Cheeseman says, "The regeneration of Christian Fields will provide high quality new homes for residents of Gravesend. We are very proud to be working in partnership with Countryside Properties to develop sustainable communities in the Thames Gateway."
ENDS
About Christian Fields:
The Moat/ Countryside proposal includes demolishing the existing properties at Christian Fields and the development of a new 425 home mixed tenure development to replace existing homes for rent. Homes for shared ownership and private sale are included in the plans, as well as six two-bedroom lifetime homes. A programme for residents to be transferred from the existing properties into brand new homes is part of the plan. The redevelopment project commenced in the autumn of 2003 and is scheduled to be executed in phases over an eight-year period.
The Christian Fields estate comprises 208 Wates style properties, built in the 1950s, 178 of which are occupied by Gravesend Borough Council tenants.
Moat will invest a substantial contribution of its own resources into the project, which together with some cross subsidy from the private sale properties, enables the delivery of high quality homes. Moat has plans to deliver an integrated housing management service, property care and community development across all the tenures.
About Moat:
Moat is a housing association that has provided affordable homes for people in the south east over the past 40 years.
Apart from providing supported and general needs homes for rent, Moat has particular strengths in affordable home ownership and key worker housing. Moat employs 500 people, and manages almost 14,000 homes for rent and shared ownership.
In 2004 Moat received the fifth largest Housing Corporation funding allocation in the country. The housing association is one of the Housing Corporation's development partners. Moat is also the government's appointed zone agent for HomeBuy in Kent, Essex and Sussex.
Moat's aim is to be a leading housing association offering excellent customer service and building high quality affordable homes within thriving communities.
www.moat.co.uk
About Countryside Properties:Countryside Properties PLC is a specialist development company recognised in particular for the development of sustainable communities and urban regeneration. Countryside Properties' operations are mainly in London and the South East, the East and the North West of England. Based in Brentwood, Essex, the Company directly employs around 800 people and has regional offices in London and Warrington. The Company's key projects include: Greenwich Millennium Village, London; St Mary's Island, Chatham Maritime, Kent; Peckham Programme, London and Didsbury Point, Manchester.
www.countryside-properties.com
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Information correct as at 07/02/2006