Outline plans for the development of Northfleet Harbourside, a major new waterfront neighbourhood on the River Thames in Kent, have been submitted to Gravesham Borough Council.
Proposals for the 50-acre brownfield site centre on a new 8,000-capacity football stadium for Ebbsfleet United FC that will also become a multipurpose venue for additional sports fixtures throughout the year, as well as major cultural, music and community events for up to 20,000 people.
Supporting this new facility will be 3,500 new homes, 225,000 sq ft of new shops, restaurants, bars and cafés, a new hotel, offices including space for incubator start-ups, training and R&D facilities, a community retail centre and further community and medical services.
The masterplan also includes over 9.5 acres of green space, including two new parkland areas, publicly accessible river and harbour frontages, pocket parks, public squares, private gardens, children’s play areas and over 3km of new pedestrian and cycle links. Access to Gravesend town centre will be improved, and local transport infrastructure will link to both Northfleet and Ebbsfleet International stations and fast trains into Central London.
The plans for the new neighbourhood are being brought forward by Landmarque Property Group, in partnership with Ebbsfleet United FC. Their team includes planning and development consultancy Montagu Evans (planning, viability, townscape, socio-economic and retail impact), UNStudio (masterplanning), HLM Architects, C+W O’Brien Architects, Cascade (community engagement), Trium (environment) and Vectos (transport).
A spokesperson for Northfleet Harbourside said: “We are truly excited to now be submitting the outline planning application, which has Ebbsfleet United Football Club at its heart. It is safeguarding the future of the club in a new stadium, opening up the riverside to the public, and creating a new destination neighbourhood for everyone in Gravesham to be proud of. The community, the football club and local heritage are central to our plans to improve Northfleet for all.”
Jon Bradburn, Partner at Montagu Evans, added: “From the very start of this process, Ebbsfleet United has been central to these plans, with continuing in-depth engagement with local residents, business owners and supporters to truly understand their priorities. The resulting masterplan and outline plans we are now submitting are designed to create an important new, sustainable, riverside neighbourhood that respects Northfleet’s heritage, prioritises health and wellbeing, retains the much-loved football club and puts the local community firmly at its heart.”
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