Peel Waters cleared for controversial Chatham Docks makeover
Peel Waters has been given the final go-ahead to regenerate an 18-acre industrial estate at Chatham Docks in Gillingham, Kent, into the Basin3 enterprise campus.
Medway Council’s planning committee approved the application for the scheme in May this year, despite strong opposition from steel group ArcelorMittal.
The secretary of state for the ministry of housing, communities and local government has decided to not call-in the plans and allow the planning decision for Basin3 to be determined by the local authority. As such, the approval was formalised, meaning the plans can now progress to the construction stage.
Peel Waters has been given the final go-ahead to regenerate an 18-acre industrial estate at Chatham Docks in Gillingham, Kent, into the Basin3 enterprise campus.
Medway Council’s planning committee approved the application for the scheme in May this year, despite strong opposition from steel group ArcelorMittal.
The secretary of state for the ministry of housing, communities and local government has decided to not call-in the plans and allow the planning decision for Basin3 to be determined by the local authority. As such, the approval was formalised, meaning the plans can now progress to the construction stage.
Peel Waters are the owners of the site, seeking to transform the existing brownfield land into 333,681 sq ft of adaptable workspace catering for businesses operating in the creative, manufacturing and technology, life sciences, IT, health and digital sectors.
The scheme sits next to Peel’s £125m Chatham Waters development, which features 392 homes for rent and sale, an Asda store, a Marston’s family pub, other restaurant and retail facilities, the Waterfront University Technical College, and a care home.
James Whittaker, managing director at Peel Waters, said: “This decision means we can now focus on delivering Basin3, working with our partners to build an employment campus that will complement the surrounding business, educational and residential communities.
“By having outline planning permission for this brownfield site, it builds a stronger case to attract in both prospective employers and inward investment.
“Sitting adjacent to Medway’s university cluster, our aspirations for Basin3 have synergies with these universities which will bring further benefits to Medway as a whole, retaining talent and thereby attracting employers that are fundamental to our regeneration plans on this important waterfront site.”
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Image © Peel Waters
