Ebbsfleet Development Corporation has worked closely with premium housebuilder Redrow to provide additional funding to support enhancements to two community buildings in Ebbsfleet Green, a new neighbourhood within the Ebbsfleet Garden City scheme.
The Corporation has agreed to contribute funding of £13m to support the enhancement of community facilities in the growing neighbourhood, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to delivering high quality facilities, amenities and placemaking across Ebbsfleet.
Ebbsfleet Green is a new neighbourhood within the Ebbsfleet Garden City scheme comprising c.950 homes, being delivered by Redrow’s South East division, that commenced in 2016 with the final homes forecast to complete in 2025.
The development is bound by a s106 Agreement that requires Redrow to deliver new community facilities including sports pitches, tennis courts and associated accommodation together with a community hall. Through various studies and public consultations, the Corporation, alongside Redrow, have identified opportunities to enhance facilities and provide exemplary amenities in the heart of the neighbourhood.
The strategic location of the two community buildings ensures that residents from surrounding neighbourhoods can easily access and enjoy the premises’ offerings.
The Corporation has worked in collaboration with Redrow and the Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust to develop the designs and secure Planning Permission for two separate and distinct community buildings, comprising well designed, BREEAM Outstanding buildings:
A Neighbourhood House – a 244m2 single storey building, set within a generous area of public landscape and adjacent to a new play space. This building will provide residents with flexible amenities to come together and meet, with the space designed to respond to different activities and needs of users. Meeting facilities, along with IT equipment and a village tool store, will be provided to enhance the experience and offering of the space.
A Sports and Leisure Hub – a 1,013m2 two storey building providing an inviting venue with multi-use sports hall, changing and welfare amenities, a gym, managed reception, café, and gymnasium facilities. A new FA standard 3G sports pitch, tennis courts, play space and parking will sit alongside the Hub and be available for use by residents and visitors to the area.Upon completion, ownership of the new facilities will be transferred to the Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust to manage and maintain them in the long term. The Trust have appointed Freedom Leisure to provide the day-to-day management and operation of the Sports and Leisure Hub.
Ian Piper, Chief Executive of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, said:
“This investment represents a significant milestone in our ambitions to provide fantastic facilities for the growing community at Ebbsfleet, helping to create a vibrant, sustainable place to live. We are pleased to have worked alongside Redrow to ensure these buildings meet high standards of design and environmental performance. The Corporation looks forward to seeing these new facilities become a central hub for community activities in the area, to be used and enjoyed by all.”
Ben Fewsdale, Managing Director of Redrow South East, said:
“Community plays a huge role in choosing where to live and we are committed to investing in this growing neighbourhood. As well as building homes for the future, we want to ensure we’re supporting the communities we create through vital funding for local services. We’re excited to continue welcoming residents to this growing community.”
Works are scheduled to start on site autumn 2024, with the two buildings complete and open to the public by autumn 2025.