WHAT IS THE GRAVESEND HERITAGE QUARTER PROJECT?

01 WELCOME Hello and welcome to this consultation event showing Reef Group s proposals for. The project team is here today to explain what is proposed for these important town centre sites and answer questions that you may have. Once you have been able to review all of the information on display, we would welcome any feedback you have on the draft plans. WHO ARE REEF GROUP? Reef Group are a property development and investment company that specialise in mixed use urban regeneration projects. Reef delivers high quality and innovative development projects and have experience across a variety of sectors including retail, residential, hotels and leisure, offices and growing sectors such as student housing and care homes. The Gravesend Heritage Quarter project will be delivered by Reef Group, in partnership with Gravesham Council. FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.REEFESTATES.CO.UK WHAT IS THE GRAVESEND HERITAGE QUARTER PROJECT? This exciting town centre regeneration project will bring new life and activity to the centre of Gravesend. New shops and office space will be created across two sites (the Eastern Quarter and the Western Quarter) close to the High Street, as well as a new cinema and hotel. The development will also include much-needed new homes for Gravesend, as well as affordable homes, ideal for people looking to live in central Gravesend and benefit from this major new investment. The project will also include St. George s Shopping Centre, which will be enhanced and refurbished with new signage, branding and shopfront improvements over the coming months as an initial phase of works. The Gravesend Heritage Quarter project will deliver: Shops Homes Offices and workspace New restaurants and cafés A cinema A hotel Community space Improved public open space

02 THE SITE TODAY The project encompasses three different sites. ST GEORGE S SHOPPING CENTRE The shopping centre is currently not an attractive place to walk through or shop in. It has no reference to the historic nature of Gravesend and does not connect well into the surrounding series of streets and alleys. The centre currently is: Dated in appearance Not well maintained Has poor quality lighting and finishes There is great potential to improve the environment into a bustling destination where people can shop, eat and maybe watch a film with green spaces, quality finishes and improved street furniture. WESTERN QUARTER EASTERN QUARTER The site is a key link between the town centre and the river adjacent to a number of key public buildings including the Town hall and market. The site has the potential to provide a new town square with active surrounding uses linking to the market and having a strong connection down to St Andrews Gardens and the river. The main asset of the Western Quarter is St George s Church. The environment around it however lacks the quality and activity to show the Church in its best light. This underutilised site would benefit from improved public realm, more activity and a mix of uses for both the public and for people who want to live in the town centre. Maintaining and improving views and routes to the church is key to the success of the Western Quarter.

03 AFTER ST GEORGE S SHOPPING CENTRE The improvement works for the St George s shopping centre look to better integrate the centre with its surroundings. The designs take reference from Gravesend High Street and successful destinations, such as St Christopher s Place in central London or central Greenwich. By removing canopies and dated shop finishes we will move away from a traditional shopping centre into a series of streets and spaces. The entrances will feel like you are turning into other Gravesend streets. Ones which will include high level planting (a modern take on a window box or hanging basket) hanging lanterns, new signage and graphics on more traditional wall finishes and new flooring. BEFORE EXAMPLES

04 AFTER ST GEORGE S SHOPPING CENTRE The urban heritage theme extends into the centre with improvement works to the canopies and shopfronts. Softer finishes such as timber will be used on the underside of the canopies with brighter lighting. The dark brick walls between the shops will also be brightened up and incorporate heritage style light fittings. To complete the theme, the hanging shop signs will be mounted in traditional wrought iron frames. BEFORE EXAMPLES

05 EXISTING AND ILLUSTRATIVE PROPOSED TREATMENT In some areas we are proposing to remove canopies to improve views into the shops and create a brighter, more open space. Above the shopfronts we will use similar timber cladding with integrated wall mounted planters. The traditional wall mounted lights and hanging tenant signs will be incorporated. Where possible we will also look to increase the height of the shopfronts improving visibility and allowing the shops to better promote themselves. BEFORE AFTER EXAMPLES

06 PROPOSED TREATMENT As well as the improved entrances, canopies and shopfronts we are proposing: - planters to add greenery to the streets - better quality seating and other street furniture. - innovative signage and graphics to blank walls - improved lighting to the covered areas - new flooring throughout EXAMPLES

07 BEFORE PROPOSED TREATMENT Retail is changing, and people are looking for more from their town centre than just shops. At the St George s Centre we want to provide a more diverse offer and are proposing a new boutique cinema with cafes and restaurants. Located to the north of the centre, overlooking the St George s Church, the restaurants will benefit from the fantastic views. The cinema will compliment the restaurant offer and mean people won t have to leave Gravesend to enjoy a family day out. AFTER EXAMPLES

08 PREVIOUS SCHEME EASTERN QUARTER Improvements proposed to the Eastern Quarter: - More flexible uses around the new Town Square linking with the market building. This new square can accommodate a range of activities from a farmers market in the summer to an ice rink in the winter. - More homes. We are proposing to replace the hotel with more residential units. This will allow us to reduce the height of the building. We will still be providing: - Re-landscaped St Andrew s Gardens providing a fantastic open space fronting onto the river. - A grand set of stairs linking the new square with the river bordered by planted terraces. PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS More flexible uses surrounding new Town Square Hotel relocated to Western Quarter Reduced height to part of this block Increased residential provision Some re-landscaping of St. Andrews Gardens and river walk Strong link to St. Andrew s Gardens and river walk

09 WESTERN QUARTER Improvements proposed to the Western Quarter: - We have greatly improved views and links to the St George s Church. This increased permeability and ease of access to and through the Western Quarter will allow more people to enjoy the open public realm and landscaped areas with a whole range of uses surrounding the church. - From Bath Street roundabout we have broken the buildings to create an important route into St George s Church Square. - The link between the river and the church is to be significantly widened opening up extended views and meaning we can introduce ramped and stepped access between West Street and St George s Church Square. - Access from the shopping centre has also been made more generous and will now incorporate a set of grand steps which can allow people to sit on and enjoy the views of the church and gardens. - The demand for large retail units has fallen since the previous application and as such we have been able to reduce the height and bulk from the previous proposals. We have also been able to provide better town centre parking facilities, more homes and the relocated hotel from the Eastern Quarter. - The new cafes, restaurants and cinema will form part of the Western Quarter development and create and active edge to the St George s Shopping Centre, allowing people to sit out on a raised terrace overlooking the church square. PREVIOUS SCHEME Leisure anchor and restaurants overlooking Church Sq. with hotel incorporated into Western Quarter Refurbishment of existing centre More active mix of uses to area surrounding Church Sq. Improved access from mall down to Church Sq. Reduced height facing St George s Church Reduced height and massing to Bath St. Increased permeability and views of church spire Retail replaced with further parking provision Increased permeability and views of church spire from Bath St. roundabout PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS

10 EASTERN AND WESTERN QUARTERS Western Quarter Eastern Quarter Although the proposals are split into the Eastern and Western Quarters, their positions either side of the High Street mean they both add to the urban grain encouraging pedestrian movement across the High Street, bringing more life and activity to this part of Gravesend. The Eastern Quarter is split into three buildings. E01 which forms the new Town Square which connects to the market and provides a large open space for flexible uses from a summer farmers market to an ice rink. This square links to the high street through the Town Hall. E02 and E03 provide important new homes within the town centre. They are split to provide a grand set of steps down to St Andrew s Gardens and the river. St Andrew s Gardens will benefit from being re-landscaped, providing places for people to sit and enjoy the river views. The Bawley boat influenced seating and terracing will create a wide variety of recreational uses from active play through to passive recreation. The Western Quarter will now be a much better integrated part of the town centre, with better positioned and more generous links to the surrounding streets. Increased public realm and open space surrounded by active uses will mean the area will be a more enjoyable space to walk through. The changes to the building footprints and scale will mean they frame St George s Church and ensure it sits as the centre piece within the Western Quarter development. Western Quarter Eastern Quarter

11 FOCUS ON TRANSPORT The location of the development in the centre of Gravesend will enable future residents to be situated within easy walking distance of the facilities afforded by the town centre. The Heritage Quarter is also within walking distance of the railway and bus stations and the scheme will retain most of the town centre parking. The proposals will also enable addition pedestrian facilities to be provided on West Street and Crooked Lane when an appropriate design is agreed with the Council. All of the above will help to reduce the transport impact of the development. BUS There is a comprehensive local bus network which includes the Fastrack B service benefiting from segregated bus lanes serving Ebbsfleet International, Bluewater and Dartford. FERRY The historic Tilbury Ferry cross the Thames and links Gravesend with Tilbury to the north. RAIL Gravesend railway station, which has benefited already from the Transport Quarter improvements, provides railway services to London Victoria, London Charing Cross, a fast link into London St Pancras, as well as services to Luton, and south coast destinations. CYCLING Cycling is catered for by the town centres cycle route network and assisted by the new railway station cycle parking facility which can accommodate in excess of 280 cycles. The facilities include National Cycle Route 1 which connects Gravesend with London. ROAD The town is also near the A2 giving to the UK motorway network while the A226 one way system, now including the Rathmore Road link gives local access to the town centre car parks. PARKING The Western Quarter scheme is currently designed in outline. The proposal includes an increase in car parking spaces from the previously consented scheme and the St George s car park will be retained. While the smaller West Street car park will be built over, its parking spaces will be re-provided within the new Western Quarter parking area. In addition, the scheme will provide vastly improved pedestrian access routes through the development to the church square and St George s Shopping Centre.

12 FOCUS ON HERITAGE The development sites sit within the Heritage Quarter of Gravesend. The historic high Street is a fantastic example of how careful renovation has retained and improved the heritage attributes. The work we are proposing to the St George s Centre continues this theme and we will be looking to extend this across the architecture and public realm of the Eastern and Western Quarters. LESLIE JONES ARCHITECTS, HIGH STREET PHOTOS

13 FOCUS ON BUILD TO RENT In the face of Britain s current housing crisis, purpose build-to-rent schemes are considered by central government as a key solution. The build-to-rent model is growing popular in the UK, and is already widely used in countries such as France, Germany and America. The build-to-rent scheme was launched in 2012 as part of a series of government initiatives to increase the supply of high-quality homes available for market rent in the private sector. HOW DOES THE BUILD- TO-RENT MODEL WORK? Build-to-rent involves the construction and development of properties designed to rent out on a long-term affordable basis. They are offered with long-term and affordable shorthold tenancies. The aim of build-to-rent is to simplify renting for both landlords and renters. They also offer a solution to those unable to afford their own home. HOW WILL IT WORK ON THIS SITE? Reef are committed to providing highquality affordable homes in the centre of Gravesend. These purpose built homes for rent will be overseen by a property manager, ensuring that the entire development will maintain a high standard and all homes will be treated equally. We not only hope to deliver build-to-rent homes but also a new community we will be providing communal spaces that residents and neighbours can enjoy. The proposals include space for a gym, café and lounge. The residential blocks will also have landscaped courtyards. HOW MANY HOMES WILL YOU BE PROVIDING? We are proposing to create approximately 400 new homes across Gravesend Heritage Quarter, including a mixture of one, two and three bedroom flats. We are also proposing to provide approximately 500 car parking spaces, including blue badge and electric vehicle charging spaces and storage space for bikes. Collectively these will provide an appropriate level of residential parking. The development will also encourage residents to utilise the existing public transport links in the nearby area, supported by travel planning.

14 TIMESCALES AND NEXT STEPS Thank you for taking the time to visit and viewing our proposals for. If you have any questions about the information you have seen, please do speak to a member of the project team. We are committed to consulting local residents on these draft proposals and would welcome any feedback you have. You can complete a feedback form while you are here and leave it with a member of the team, or take a complementary Freepost envelope and return the form at a later date. Alternatively you can contact the project team with any feedback you might have after the event via one of the options shown on this board. CONTACT US: Should you need to talk to a member of our team or wish to ask any further questions, you can contact us using any of the channels below: PHONE: 0344 225 0003 EMAIL: GravesendHeritageQuarter @glhearn.com WEB: POST: Freepost RTHZ-AKZT-SABG, GL Hearn Limited, 280 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EE Please ensure you provide any feedback by no later than Tuesday 31st July 2018, so that we can review and consider all responses in advance planning applications being submitted. TIMESCALES SUMMER 2018 Public consultation on the new proposals for Gravesend Heritage Quarter SUMMER 2018 Submission of a planning application for the St George s Centre refurbishment works LATE 2018 St George s Centre refurbishment works to begin LATE 2018 Submission of a planning application for the Eastern Quarter EARLY 2019 Submission of a planning application for the Western Quarter SPRING 2019 ONWARDS Redevelopment work on the project to begin