Rochester Riverside
Rochester, Kent
| Developer/Landlord | Countryside Properties plc / Hyde Housing / Medway Council |
|---|---|
| Architect | BPTW / HTA Design |
| Employers Representative | Countryside Properties plc & Hyde Housing |
| Contractor | Countryside Properties plc |
| Engineer | Brand Consulting |
| Landscape Architect | LUC |
This major regeneration project has transformed Rochester Riverside, extending the city centre of one of South East England’s most historic cathedral cities through the creation of up to 1,400 new homes across 7 phases. Once complete, the masterplan will also deliver over 8,000sqm of non-residential floorspace including a primary school, a nursery, a hotel, retail spaces as well as extensive open space and public realm. BPTW were selected as the architect for the design and delivery, developing detailed designs for Phases 1 to 3 and later Phase 7, with HTA leading on the overall masterplan. BPTW’s planning consultancy team also played an integral role in the development having prepared and managed a hybrid planning application including detailed permission for the first 3 phases. The team also recently secured detailed permission for Phase 7.
Phases 1-3 have provided 489 homes, new open spaces, a new 80-bed hotel located adjacent to the existing railway station, a nursery, and 885 sqm of commercial floorspace. With a high proportion of family homes, on these phases BPTW created bespoke house and apartment typologies specifically designed for the historic riverside location. Homes range from detached riverside houses to affordable apartments, set within a landscape that draws on the natural heritage of the site. The application represented the most significant step in the regeneration of this important strategic site, creating a new city quarter that delivers homes, leisure spaces and workplaces fit for the twenty first century and beyond.
On these phases BPTW has created unique house and apartment typologies specifically designed for the riverside location, with homes ranging from detached riverside houses to affordable apartments surrounded by a landscaped setting which draws on the natural heritage of the site. With the scheme providing an opportunity to deliver highly desirable homes in this unique location, our architects worked closely with the client’s sales team through specific workshop sessions to refine the design, specification and detailing of the homes; each house and apartment type has been designed to exacting standards, taking into account sales advice to ensure the delivery of beautiful homes which appeal to the market.
The design team has drawn inspiration from the wider Medway area, referencing the rich fabric found in the conservation areas of Rochester and also the character of Chatham and the Historic Naval Dockyard. Consideration of roof lines, local view corridors, building facades, fenestration, street furniture and opportunities for public art have all been designed and considered to create a sense of place that relates to the city and to the Medway.
Phase 7 of the masterplan which will create 154 homes and introduce two new bespoke house types which overcome the challenges of building on the narrowest site within the masterplan. This phase builds on the established design principles of the previous phases and will also forge connections to the neighbouring Chatham Intra area, drawing inspiration from the surrounding architectural narrative to create a scheme which knits seamlessly with earlier phases of the masterplan.
The scheme is the result of an extensive and considered design development process with Medway Council, the HCA and the local community. Throughout the process BPTW worked collaboratively with a multidisciplinary design team including HTA design, landscape architects, engineers, public art consultants, energy consultants and the client team.
The scheme has won and been shortlisted for numerous awards. This includes winning the ‘Building for a Healthy Life Award’ and the overall ‘Winner of Winners Award’ at the Housing Design Awards 2020. Phase 7 was subsequently shortlisted at the awards in 2022. Watch the HDA short film on the development here.
