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30 November 2001
With 30,000 houses and 14 million sq. ft. of commercial, retail and leisure space proposed to transform a 22 sq.mile area, the new 'Kent Thameside' region is Europe's largest regeneration zone. One of the first new residential developments in the region is a joint venture between Copthorn Homes and Land Securities. Waterstone Park is an innovative new 20 acre development located beside the highly successful Bluewater shopping centre. The first stage of development comprises 161 new homes that will set benchmarks for the region in terms of residential architectural quality, innovation and landscaping.
Copthorn is creating 98 one and two bedroom apartments and 63 two, three and four bedroom houses in original and flexible designs. The new homes have been created to reflect Kent architecture and the rich local vernacular of the Victorian and Edwardian villas in the vicinity, with features including gable roofs, dormer windows, arcades, oriel windows and turrets.
Traditional style exteriors are created using materials such as slate roofs, cream stucco renders and yellow stock bricks. The homes will incorporate a 'water harvesting system' to recycle roof rainwater for flushing the WCs. In contrast to the exterior, the interiors will be more contemporary in design and layout, making clever use of space and light.
Creating sustainable new communities through innovative design and thinking lies at the heart of the key projects planned to transform the Kent Thameside region. Integral to this vision is the creation of an integrated public transport system and a high quality environment. At Waterstone Park, residents will benefit from a five acre park which forms part of the 'Green Grid', a network of interconnecting green corridors with paths that will link existing communities to the new ones.
With a philosophy of full access to these 'green' spaces, priority will be given to pedestrians and cyclists. Outside Waterstone Park, a new bus stop on the London Road will be served by a network of safe footpaths throughout the development providing links to the local primary schools and Bluewater shopping centre.
Kent Thameside will be served by a variety of transport links, allowing people easy access to and around the region. When complete, the innovative 'Fastrack' initiative will provide a high quality public transport system running on dedicated routes linking the major residential and commercial centres within the region. Train services already provide direct links from Stone Crossing station to London main line stations in approximately 45 minutes. By 2007, the Kent Thameside International station on the high-speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Ebbsfleet will open, providing 'Sprinter'-type trains that take just 15 minutes (approx.) to London St Pancras station. Channel Tunnel trains to Paris will take just over two hours and to Brussels in under two hours. Further transport improvement plans include an estimated 50% growth of the local bus service.
Nearby Bluewater, one of Europe's largest shopping and leisure destinations, offers over 300 shops, a 12 screen cinema complex and a variety of restaurants. The nearby M20, M25 and A2 provide direct links to London and the rest of Kent, The City Airport is only 15 miles away (approx.) and Gatwick Airport is approximately 35 miles.
On 24th November Copthorn is launching this groundbreaking new development starting with two bedroom apartments priced from £125,000 and luxury four bedroom family homes priced from £370,000. Spring 2002 will see the launch of four bedroom townhouses.
To register your interest in Waterstone Park, telephone Copthorn Homes' Waterstone Park hotline on: 01277 697109 or visit www.waterstonepark.co.uk or email waterstonepark@copthornhomes.co.uk. Alternatively Copthorn's website is at: www.copthornhomes.co.uk. Copthorn Homes is part of Countryside Properties PLC.
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Information correct as at 30/11/2001