UK's newest £3.9bn garden city with 15k homes changing unused land forever
Ambitious plans to transform unused land into a bustling green city are slated to be fully finished in the next decade.
Following soaring demand for more houses in the popular commuter county of Kent, the idea of Ebbsfleet Garden City was born back in 2015. Spearheaded by the Government and Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, and costing almost £4 billion, the investment aims to create the first garden city in 100 years across 2,500 acres of brownfield land.
By 2035, Ebbsfleet will feature a staggering 15,000 new homes and 40 per cent 'green and blue space' with 50 new parks and open spaces - while creating 32,000 jobs for residents. By then, the mostly flattened area will become a place for Brits to 'grow a family, build a business, socialise, and enjoy a unique city-country lifestyle on the edge of London and Kent'.
There are three major projects of the Ebbsfleet Garden City: Ebsfleet Central, Northfleet Embankment, and Community buildings and spaces. According to the developer's website, Ebbsfleet Garden City comprises an urban regeneration area made up of a collection of brownfield development sites within Dartford and Gravesham Boroughs. The planning application for this project is due to be submitted later this year.
"Ebbsfleet Central will be the dynamic commercial centre for Ebbsfleet and the surrounds, anchored by Ebbsfleet International railway station," developers explained. "Current car parking around the station will be relocated and the area transformed with modern new offices, city living apartments and places for people to enjoy arts and culture alongside fitness and wellbeing, all on the doorsteps of high-quality and sustainable neighbourhoods."
Ebbsfleet Central, a mixed-use residential and commercial area, will feature around 2,100 homes (35 per cent of which are Affordable Housing) and up to 100,000 square metres of office floorspace - as well as 10,000 square metres of retail floor spaces for restaurants, bars, cafes, and supermarkets. Located just 17 minutes from Central London, it is hoped the revamped area will become a 'magnet for inclusive economic growth' and a 'destination of choice for investment and innovation'.
In 2022, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation submitted the outline planning application for the first phase of new development in Ebbsfleet Central. This includes building new leisure facilities, a new school, and more open spaces for future residents.
The mega project also involves building the Eastgate Community Building, a church and local community centre located in the middle of Springhead Park. "The building and various rooms is available to the public to host various groups, classes, events and initiatives," developers added. "As well as annual events such as Easter Egg hunts, Summer BBQs and Christmas Fairs, Eastgate is also a regular meeting space for Rainbows & Brownies, Zapa Performing Arts and runs a regular Parents & Tots group, as well as being used as a church space."
Last year, Ebbsfleet Garden City announced 632 new homes were delivered in 2022/23 despite national challenges to the housing market. Since 2015, around 3,516 news have already been delivered in the region - including 195 Affordable Homes. As of 2024, 3.94 hectares of parks, open spaces and recreation areas, as well as 3.62km of dedicated footpaths and cycle ways - and £172.9 million in private sector investment had been delivered.
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