Policy information sourced from the Gravesham Local Plan - Core Strategy

CS05: Gravesend Town Centre Opportunity Area

4.6.39 The Gravesend Town Centre Opportunity Area will be the principal focus for town centre related economic and social activity in the Borough. This will be achieved by consolidating the existing retail area, encouraging a mix of employment and residential uses, improving its role as a transport hub by the creation of a public transport interchange, promoting an evening economy through giving support to the provision of leisure uses and taking full advantage of its heritage and riverside setting.

4.6.40 Development of the Heritage Quarter will provide a high quality, mixed use development of around 330 dwellings, around 10,500 sq m gross of, primarily comparison, retail floorspace (use class A1), some office floorspace (use class B1a) and a hotel. It will reconnect the town centre with the River Thames, High Street and surrounding areas and reinforce Gravesend’s character as a riverside heritage town. Replacement public car parking and improvements to the open space at St Andrew’s Gardens will be provided as well as a replacement St George’s Church Hall.

4.6.41 Within the Opportunity Area, the Council will:

  • Seek to improve pedestrian access between the town centre, the River Thames and surrounding areas and reduce the physical barriers created by the one-way system;
  • Manage traffic accessing and passing through the area through its approach towards the provision and distribution of public car parks;
  • Support improved public transport access, including the provision of an integrated transport interchange at Garrick Street/Barrack Row;
  • Support and enhance retail, leisure, entertainment, cultural and tourism provision in accordance with the sequential approach;
  • Support the provision of new offices in accordance with the sequential approach, in particular where they have good access to the proposed integrated transport interchange;
  • Support the provision of new residential development where a satisfactory living environment can be achieved;
  • Support the redevelopment of under-used sites where this makes more efficient use of the sites and improves townscape character; and
  • Support existing retail, commercial and service functions on the ground floors and the provision of offices and residential uses on upper floors subject to achieving a satisfactory living environment.

For more information please see the Gravesham Core Strategy