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Home , Queenborough, Queenborough Castle, Rushenden, Sheerness, Sheppey Crossing

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“Regeneration is what you can change. What you can make different for all the people Context because it is for the better” George Stalley age 9

“The plan is good because we can change the way (the) big boys behave and there are going to be more things for them to do” Rhyanna age 8

“I think it will make the Island better “Things are not very good at the moment because it’s going to be easier to get to because people are building new things and school, more people are going to want jobs some teenagers are writing all over stuff. We and there will be more jobs, the roads are need some hospitals and doctors nearer to going to be changed” us. It will affect my future by more houses Devon Dumont age 9 being built and I would like to live near my mum and dad so I wouldn’t have to go a long way to visit them” Matthew Neal age 9 Context

Queenborough

Swale Caradon Works site

Coal wash wharf

Rushenden

Neatscourt Marshes

Railway

A249

Swale Crossing

Aerial photo of the masterplan area and context

18 The Place

Analysis: The Place

The sits within the context of the and major change in North . It has a strong character resulting from a variety of factors but in particular isolation, history and landscape have been major influences on the place today.

Sheppey is located in north Kent with the to the north, the River to the west and separating the island from the mainland to the south and west. The island is accessed from the south by road on The Thames Gateway - the A249 and by rail from . The Kent Context A249 has been upgraded with a new bridge (“”) and dual carriageway crossing to the island. This now provides a fast road link between the M2 and the Island.

The Isle of Sheppey has a long history of industry and maritime activity with being the oldest town on the Island and having one of the UK’s major ports. This activity has been in decline for many years and a combination of poor transport connections and declining employment has resulted in a high degree of deprivation and poor image.

This negative aspect can be countered by the positive aspects of a rich history, attractive setting and landscape and a great deal of potential which awaits unlocking.

The Isle of Sheppey in context • Queenborough & Regeneration • New A249 bridge • Rushenden Relief Road • Swale Ecotourism Study • Learning Hub • Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road • Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration

The regeneration of Queenborough & Rushenden will set a marker for high quality development and regeneration for the Isle of Sheppey.

The Queenborough and Rushenden area.

19 Context - History

Queenborough has a rich heritage going back to at least 893 AD when it was the first settlement on the island. The history of the place has continued to inform the masterplan and regeneration of Queenborough & Rushenden.

English heritage have completed a significant study of the area and this is now available as a published document. Channel Four’s has completed an archaeological dig on the site and the results have informed the study. The Town Council are developing 1769 proposals to use the old school for community use and this is coupled with aspirations to improve the castle site and to interpret it in a way that reflects its history.

Queenborough has been the subject of great change over many centuries. This masterplan as it might once have represents a coordinated response to changing appeared times focusing on the potential the place offers for regeneration and development for the future. An understanding and interpretation of the area’s history will give roots to the regeneration project. 1898

1970s The Time Team at Queenborough Castle

20 Context - Land Use

Land Use

Queenborough, Sheerness, and the Isle of Sheppey have land uses that are tied primarily to maritime, industrial and agricultural activities, Sheerness with the largest land areas occupied by grazing marsh and by storage associated with the Port of Sheerness (primarily car storage). Industry unrelated to maritime activity has also been central to the economy, though this has been in decline for some years.

Other uses include the sewage treatment plant to the south of Rushenden, dredging landfill (also to the south of Rushenden), brownfield land (at the former Caradon Works), and mixed residential areas at Queenborough, Rushenden, Halfway, and Sheerness. Halfway Queenborough The wider context is mainly open agricultural land, often grazed and with a marshland character. This open landscape is very distinctive and is typical of the island.

The Swale

Rushenden

Neatscourt Marshes

Water

Mudflat

Saltmarsh

Agricultural land

Residential and mixed use

Public open space

Industrial and distribution

Brownfield / derelict land

Landfill

21 Context

Queenborough and Rushenden today Socioeconomic Indicators

Today Queenborough and Rushenden presents There are a variety of recognised indicators a mixed physical and social picture. Physically of relative economic and social prosperity. the historic centre of Queenborough and Key indicators include economic activity, the surrounding landscape of marshes and employment, wages, education, and health. agricultural land contributes to a strongly defined character. Existing industry and the historic The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) is traces and remnants of a worked landscape a measure that combines statistics from six contribute to this strong sense of character ‘domains’ of deprivation, being income, although in some cases this is negative where employment, health and disability, education, there are derelict sites or expanses of cleared housing, and access to services. The IMD brownfield land. The impact of a declining identifies the Isle of Sheppey as being the most industrial base and historically poor connectivity deprived part of Swale , which is itself has led to low employment opportunities. In one of the most deprived districts in Kent. The addition some development over the most Queenborough and Rushenden area is ranked recent few decades has not been of the highest the 35th most deprived area out of 8,414 areas quality and perhaps reflected perceptions in the country. This relative level of deprivation of the place as one of low aspirations and according to the IMD is corroborated by the opportunities. Primary Care Trust’s own deprivation profile, which identifies the Queenborough ward as Physical Indicators falling within the 20% most deprived wards in for child poverty. There are physical manifestations of the changing economic fortunes of the area. One Education achievement is relatively low, with of the most striking is the existence of substantial only 7.3% of the population educated to degree areas of derelict and under-used industrial land level or above, compared to 12% for Swale and between Queenborough and Rushenden. These 19.8% for England and Wales. areas offer no positive use in their current form, and detract from the general environment and For the Rushenden area in particular, it is also amenity of the area. They do however offer a noticeable that the housing profile is unusual. significant opportunity in terms of their potential There is a significant concentration of social re-use for new development. rented housing at Rushenden, which comprises some 43% of the total housing stock, compared Another feature is the extent of land used to an average of 15% across Swale as a whole solely for car storage in connection with the and 14.5% across Kent. The concentration of a port. Whilst the port remains an essential local substantial stock of social housing has clearly business, and a key part of the economy, resulted in an equivalent concentration of its storage requirements are extensive, but persons on lower incomes. generate a relatively low density of employment compared to more intensive business uses. The extensive car storage areas also impact on local amenity.

The area has been subject generally to relatively low property values (both commercial and residential) owing largely to its relative isolation in the past, and this can also lead to a lack of investment in existing buildings.

22 Context

Queenborough

Queenborough’s sense of place derives largely from its long history - in particular its maritime history. A variety of attractive buildings and spaces make strong connections to the Creek and the Swale. The intimate scale of the town and its high density of building make a strong Queenborough High Street Queenborough Creek and welcome contrast to the expanses of surrounding marshland. The recent English Heritage report goes into a great deal of detail about the development of Queenborough and confirms its importance. This is reinforced by the fact that the Creekside area of Queenborough is within a conservation area Historic access to creek boundary. Queenborough Creek is one of its opposite castle most striking assets and is still a working creek. Water plays an important part in the character Shops opposite castle Queenborough Creek and history of Queenborough whether it be sailing and navigation or the control of flooding and drainage. Its location is traditionally favoured by visiting sailors and regeneration and development opportunities will include a positive response to the opportunities that this historic and present use provides. The Queenborough Station adjacent images capture some of the qualities of Queenborough today. Queenborough Church Queenborough Park

Queenborough Guildhall Entrance to Queenborough Creek Historic access to creek

Well cap on Queenborough Castle Queenborough Creek

All tide landing

Trafalgar Hotel on Rushenden Road Abbott Pharmaceuticals Queenborough Old School

23 Context

Works sites

The land between Queenborough and Rushenden contains the remnants of much of the area’s industry. Today it is a mixture of semi derelict and cleared lands with existing employment on old and poor quality sites. The existing Klondyke site and the empty former Caradon works sites are a testament to the waning influence of industry in the area. The Former Caradon works site Historic machinery at klondyke Moorings within the Creek former Jewsons building is now being usefully employed for community use and skills training and its location, close to the proposed Rushenden community hub, suggests future possibilities. To the east of these areas the existing steel works and other employment uses are still viable albeit in old buildings and with poor infrastructure. Regeneration at Queenborough and Rushenden will impact these sites creating Lagoon to south of Moorings within the Creek improved access. There is no doubt that over Former Caradon works site ‘Over the Arches’ the long term these areas will change further and may create opportunities for redevelopment and regeneration in the future.

SEEDA are significant land owners here having acquired the former Caradon Works site and have worked with adjacent landowners to formulate the masterplan proposals. Creek bed at low tide Tanks on Klondyke Klondyke

The ‘dam’ - future access MIT site from Klondyke to station Istil steel plant

Istil Steel railway line to Coal wash Wharf The tidal pond Istil locomotive

24 Context

Rushenden

Rushenden is an area primarily comprising housing of which some dates from the 1800’s but with the majority dating from the 1960’s. It suffers from isolation, poor infrastructure and poor local facilities. It is approximately 50% social housing built at a very low density. It has Rushenden shops Playground off Second Avenue broad roads and gardens are generous but Rushenden lacks any other basic amenities necessary to make a good community. The Rushenden Road is the only approach (for all modes of transport) to Rushenden, and it is windswept and noisy. There are large quantities of public open space but much of it is of a low Large terraces quality and some not with obvious reason or along the waterfront use. With better connectivity this public space View over Rushenden First Avenue could be of greater value to the wider area. from Rushenden Hill The social housing provider Amicus Horizon manages much of the stock at Rushenden and has established the local community facility here - the CARE House. Amicus Horizon are engaged with other partners in the regeneration plans for Queenborough and Rushenden and are Rushenden Hill playing a key role in formulating improvements to Rushenden. A quiet but isolated cul-de-sac

“Welcome to Rushenden” Second Avenue Decrepit garages

Rushenden Social Club Semidetached homes Rushenden Road

Bleak entrance to Rushenden Road New play facilities Manor Road

25 Context

River Thames

Grain Power Station

Sheerness River Medway

Aerial view of the marshland landscape

Queenborough Water as a key definer of character Barrows Hill Church

Furze Hill

Ladies Hole Point

Rushenden Rushenden Hill

Water treatment The Swale works A largely flat landscape

Landmarks

Sheppey Crossing Bridge Views from high points

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