One lucky couple has bought the 3000th home in Ebbsfleet Garden City, Kent – one of the fastest-growing places to live in the country, overseen by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC).
The couple, Majid and Raveena, are soon to get married and are moving from within Ebbsfleet to spread their wings into a new, bigger home and garden, to grow their own family.
Raveena said:
“We chose this location as we already know the area and wanted to stay local. The community is so strong here, and there’s lots for us to do as our family grows and has different needs. The view of the white cliffs of the quarry is also a reminder of what used to be here and is unique. There are many opportunities to get outdoors too, with parks and walking or cycling, so we will make the most of that, especially as our family grows. They’ve thought of everything, even electric car charging points at our new house.”
The couple bought the four-bedroom house in the Countryside/Clarion development called Ashmere and are due to move in very soon.
Majid added:
“It’s a truly diverse community in Ebbsfleet and you can see that a lot of effort has been made to involve the community. Everybody celebrates everyone. It’s exciting to be here early on in the development. Countryside were so helpful and patient with us through our buying process. We are very grateful for that.”
The couple received a gift box from EDC, including garden vouchers and garden essentials to get started in their new home. Key stakeholders in the project were also invited, along with the 3000th homebuyers, to a small celebration event to mark the occasion. Refreshments were provided by local company The Blue Bean Coffee Box, which is supporting the early community at Ashmere with hot and cold drinks and essential groceries.
Ebbsfleet Garden City is an emerging planned new city-scale development on the banks of the River Thames between Dartford and Gravesend in North Kent. The government designated it the ‘first new garden city in a century’.
Ian Piper, Chief Executive of EDC, explained:
“Our aim has always been to put the needs and ambitions of our existing and future residents first when creating the garden city. They are at the heart of everything we do here, from community spaces, parks and lakes, and transport links to home design. I am proud that we have been able to celebrate the 3000th home in what seems a relatively short space of time. Countryside and Clarion have done a great job at the Ashmere neighbourhood, and we are pleased with how it fits into the wider garden city.
Andrew Usher, Managing Director, Countryside Partnerships South London & Thames Gateway, said:
“We are so pleased that Ebbsfleet Garden City’s 3,000th home is located here at Ashmere which, once complete, will comprise 2,600 mixed-tenure homes, including apartments and houses in a wide mixture of tenures including Private Sale, Shared Ownership, Affordable Rent and First Homes. Reaching this stage of the wider Garden City development, which will create so many safe, attractive and sustainable neighbourhoods, with an abundance of green space and community facilities, is a significant milestone and something Countryside and our partner Latimer by Clarion Housing Group are very proud to be part of.”
Ebbsfleet will grow into an established new community and business location where London meets the ‘Garden of England’. The area benefits from excellent transport links and has the potential for up to 15,000 homes and many thousands of new jobs.
Ian Piper adds;
This milestone is significant for us all, and it’s great to see the pace at which the Garden City is now taking shape. We know we need many more homes in England, and we can enable some of this at Ebbsfleet, giving people an opportunity to own a well-designed home in what is shaping up to be a great place to live.”
This current milestone means EDC is on track to enable at least 5000 new homes to be built by 2025, in addition to;
- Five primary schools
- One secondary school
- Three city parks
- Five community buildings
- Three neighbourhood centres
- New and open spaces
- Community well-being initiatives
The thriving community already has open spaces, parks, play areas, community orchards that residents can enjoy, and a city-wide activity programme for all ages.
Seven house builders are currently building a variety of homes; thirty per cent will be for affordable rent or shared ownership. Eventually, there will be a population of around thirty thousand, a City Centre next to Ebbsfleet International Station, plus ground-breaking travel services and transport networks including all electric Fast Track buses and special tunnels connecting to Blue Water Shopping Centre for walkers, cyclists and public transport users.