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Gravesend £9.5 million ‘transport quarter’ given green light

Kent County Council has approved an application for a new transport quarter in Gravesend town centre.

The redevelopment, which is expected to cost £9.5 million, involves a realigned, two-way Rathmore Road linking Wrotham Road and Darnley Road.

The approved application includes major changes to the layout of the town centre which include the widening of Rathmore Road, the addition of a taxi rank outside the railway station and further provision for disabled parking.

Barrack Row will be transformed into a transport interchange, integrating the railway station with the town centre, bus and taxi services and improving pedestrian walkways.

Work is expected to begin on the transport quarter in the spring or summer of next year, according to Gravesham council leader John Burden.

In a planning statement, developers Burns & Nice said: “Gravesend Transport Quarter has a limited range of existing land uses. The application site includes the car park on Rathmore Road which currently accommodates 225 spaces, used primarily by commuters but also visitors to the town.

“The Barrack Row car park provides up to 71 spaces mainly for rail commuters. On Barrack Row there is also a commercial vehicle sales centre, a mini-cab office and a small public open space at the junction with Darnley Road.

“There is a lack of residential, commercial, leisure and A3 (café and restaurant) uses within the site boundary. The Civic Centre and Woodville Halls which provide the town’s cultural entertainment are within the eastern part of the site.

“The majority of historic buildings within and adjoining the Transport Quarter have largely disappeared as a result of extensive post-war developments, resulting in a variety in the quality of buildings.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .