Rochester Riverside has been shortlisted in the Best Community Initiative category at the Housebuilder Awards 2022, which are now in their 18th year and celebrate excellence in all aspects of the housebuilding sector.
Our £419m joint venture with Hyde, in partnership with Medway Council and Homes England, has been shortlisted on account of its extensive consultation and engagement with the local community. The designs for Rochester Riverside, which is transforming a 50-acre brownfield site into a new riverside destination with around 1,400 new homes, were developed through a comprehensive consultation strategy with local council members, stakeholders and residents through public exhibitions with fly-through video and immersive visuals. This extensive community consultation has resulted in a carefully considered scheme with homes and spaces influenced by local people and the history of the area, creating a link between old and new.
A new urban quarter that echoes Rochester’s rich townscape, the completed phases have already delivered 331 new homes along with a Costa, Co-op and Travelodge around a public plaza, creating an inviting new gateway to Rochester Riverside from historic Rochester and the station, whilst re-establishing connections between Rochester and the River Medway through a new 2.5km public river walkway.
In addition to S106 commitments, £300,000 has been set aside for the community through the Rochester Riverside Community Board, which oversees funding for community projects to spread the benefits of the landmark development across the area. In operation since March 2019, the Board has funded 27 separate social, economic and environmental community initiatives, leaving a successful legacy across the community and directly benefiting over 250,000 people.
Chosen by an expert judging panel from across the industry, the winning schemes will be announced at a glittering black tie awards ceremony on Thursday 10th November at the InterContinental London - The O2, where we are looking forward to joining our colleagues and fellow property professionals to celebrate the best of the housebuilding industry.
