Policy information sourced from the The Dartford Plan

Policy E2: Ebbsfleet Garden City Development Principles

Development proposals in Ebbsfleet Garden City should:

  • Offer a genuine variety of types and tenures of homes that allows people from all communities to live in the area;
  • Provide accessible and attractive new District and Local Centres at planned locations, and community and public facilities in walkable, vibrant, sociable neighbourhoods. Facilities and open spaces provided as part of development will be protected to ensure that well-served communities endure;
  • Encourage an enterprising and inclusive local economy, supporting local businesses by retaining existing appropriate commercial uses with a viable future, and providing additional opportunities for locally based economic growth to provide jobs for residents;
  • Deliver open space and ecological enhancements as part of the Green Grid network which are consistent with conserving and enhancing the ecological and geological interest of the Swanscombe Peninsula Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and to achieve healthy linked neighbourhoods. Development must support active lifestyles, including the provision of attractive opportunities for sports, exercise and to grow food, and help deliver a strong network of waterscapes and green corridors as defining features; and
  • Ensure no direct or indirect impacts on the SSSI, including near its boundary. Where it is necessary to avoid impacts, buffers will be created in between developments and the SSSI.

Proposals in the Garden City should be designed to:

  • Be of the highest quality, including beautifully and imaginatively designed homes and buildings which combine the best of town and country and exemplar developments;
  • Demonstrate how the location and layout of development contributes to the scale, legibility and walkability of the Garden City. Development should contribute and connect to the street hierarchy, enhance the public realm and enable walkability and cycling, with walking, cycling and public transport designed to be the most attractive forms of travel;
  • Comply with the principles set out in the Ebbsfleet Implementation Framework, the Design for Ebbsfleet Guide, the Ebbsfleet Public Realm Strategy and the Sustainable Travel Strategy. Proper regard will be had to subsequent masterplans and design guidance documents;
  • Aim for zero carbon and energy positive technology to ensure climate resilience in all developments, with exemplar design and sustainable construction methods and/ or large or small development shown to be surpassing or in line with Policy M3 requirements;
  • Include public art which reflects local character and heritage, following local public input;
  • Allow the provision of temporary meanwhile uses that enhance the character and vitality of the area where there are empty buildings or cleared sites with no current prospects of being quickly brought into use/ construction; and
  • Ensure that appropriate long term stewardship arrangements are put in place for all spaces and facilities used by the public and allow the community to engage and shape their area in a meaningful way.

Policy information sourced from the The Dartford Plan