Town centre revamp will improve route from station to historic docks
LDA Design is leading a placemaking project for the town centre of Chatham, Kent. The focus will be the route from the station to town centre and historic waterfront, creating an improved sense of arrival and easy-to-follow route through the town.
Proposals will prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, with widened footpaths and clear signposting. The route will be punctuated by orientation points and linked by new lighting and paving.
Designs will draw on the town’s maritime history, historic buildings and its links to the wider Kent region. The scheme has been awarded £4m as part of the South East Strategic Economic Plan.
LDA Design is designing public realm for New Cut Junction, the level drop at St John’s Church, the High Street junction, and Military Road, while Network Rail will deliver improvements at the station itself.
Jennifer Corlett, project consultant at LDA Design, said: “Creating clear connections and allocating space emphatically to pedestrians transforms spaces into real places that people are encouraged to inhabit and enjoy. We are hopeful that the creation of attractive, functional spaces will help to stimulate and accommodate a night-time economy and encourage a more diverse and attractive town centre.”
The placemaking project is part of Chatham’s 20-year regeneration plan and will form the basis for a longer-term public-realm strategy for the town centre. Construction work is due to begin in January 2017, with completion in March 2018.
