Property developer Kitewood has unveiled plans to develop a new primary school, shopping centre and up to 1,375 homes on the outskirts of Herne Bay, on land between Hillborough and the Altira Business Park in Broomfield. This idea first surfaced in July 2010, when everyone was up in arms about the increasing risk of death on Blacksole Bridge. Click here to read up on the back-story, and find out who the bad guys are.
The plans for the proposed development will go on show during a public exhibition at Reculver Primary School
- between 12 noon and 8pm on Wednesday, August 31, and
- between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, September 3.
Kitewood have also set up a website to keep people updated on the plans, and say they intend to compile reports on the feedback and use them if proposals need re-shaping. Visit: www.hillboroughextension.com
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The 190 acre, £240m scheme is planned in three phases.
Phase 1
- Would use the land which lies to south of the railway line and north of the Thanet Way, all of which is controlled by Kitewood. The land adjoins Altira Business Park at Bogshole Lane, and is crossed by the un-made Maystreet Road which goes over the railway line at Maystreet Bridge.
- Phase 1 land covers 25.5 hectares (63.3 acres):
- 6 hectares (15 acres) of the land for employment use as an extension to Altira Business Park, providing 300 new jobs.
- 12.5 hectares (31 acres) for 375 houses.
- 7 hectares (17.3 acres) for landscaping and public open space.
- Will include a footbridge over the Blacksole Bridge railway crossing, and a new link road between Altira Business Park and Sweechbridge Road which will enable access to the Thanet Way at both the Margate Road and the Heart in Hand Road junctions.
- Planning application in early 2012 - if it's successful, work could begin as early as the end of 2012, and finish in 2016.
- Kitewood say: "It will cost in the order of £60 million - an enormous vote of confidence in Herne Bay".
Phase 2
- Would use land which lies to the north of the railway line and extends to the existing commercial and residential areas of Hillborough, all of which is controlled by Kitewood.
- Phase 2 land covers 27.4 hectares (67.7 acres):
- 4 hectares (10 acres) of the highest area of land to the west of the site would be used for a new primary school (to be donated to CCC) and a shopping centre.
- 16 hectares (39.5 acres) for up to 500 houses.
- 7.4 hectares (18.3 acres) for wildlife habitats and parkland.
- Realignment of Sweechbridge Road to the north of the railway to improve the existing dangerous layout.
- Preservation of the historical pedestrian and cycle links via Maystreet Bridge.
- Design of a traffic system to discourage non-local traffic from passing through Hillborough.
- Kitewood anticipate Phase 2 happening between 2016 and 2026.
Phase 3
- Would use land lying to the west of phase two and north of the railway line.
- Development of this land would require an additional bridge over the railway because the Maystreet and Sweechbridge Bridges wouldn't be sufficient.
- Approximately 16 hectares (39.5 acres) could be developed to provide an additional 500 houses if the need exists.
- 7.7 hectares (19 acres) would form an extension to the central park on the higher ground in the middle of the scheme.
- The two wooded areas on the northern part of the site would be retained for landscaping and wildlife purposes.
- The central part of this land would be landscaped and planted with trees.
- Pedestrian and cycle links and possibly a bus link would also be provided to Osborn Gardens, Churchill Avenue and Highfield Avenue, enabling residents of Beltinge to access the site whilst preventing traffic from entering Beltinge.
- It is not anticipated that Phase 3 would start before 2026.
If you have any comments on this proposal, you can add them below, or you can visit www.hillboroughextension.com, or contact your councillors or MP.