CORPORATION STREET DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK Supplementary Planning Document

Adopted November 2008

Medway Council

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3 Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION 6.0 THE QUARTERS - STATION QUARTER 1.1 Introduction 6.1 Overview 1.2 The Study Area 6.2 Development Opportunities 1.3 Objectives 6.3 Building Design 6.4 Mix of Uses 2.0 CONTEXT 6.5 Access, Egress and Parking 2.1 Planning Background 6.6 Connections 2.2 Environmental Issues 7.0 ACCESS , MOVEMENT AND THE PUBLIC 3.0 ANALYSIS REALM 3.1 Existing Character and function 7.1 Objectives 3.2 Movement and Parking 7.2 Proposals 3.3 Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities 7.3 Access and Egress 7.4 Private Car Parking 4.0 THE QUARTERS - CORPORATION STREET 7.5 Gateways and the Public Realm 4.1 Overview 4.2 Development Opportunities 8.0 SUSTAINABILITY 4.3 Building Design 8.1 Sustainability Statement 4.3.1 Creating Streetscapes 8.2 Green Charter 4.3.2 Scale 8.3 Code for Sustainable Homes 4.3.3 Corporation Street car park 4.4 Land Uses 9.0 DELIVERY 4.5 Vehicle Circulation, Access and Egress 9.1 Overview 4.6 Creating an Attractive Public Realm 9.2 Delivery 4.7 Landscaping/ Amenity areas 9.3 Developer contributions 9.4 Planning application requirements 5.0 THE QUARTERS - CITY WALL 5.1 Overview 5.2 Development Opportunities 5.3 Land Uses 5.4 Building Design 5.5 Access, Egress and Parking

4 1.0 Introduction

1.1 Introduction This Development Framework lays down develop- ment principles for the Corporation Street area in order to ensure it reaches its full potential as a gate- way site between historic Rochester and the new neighbourhood of Rochester Riverside. The Devel- opment Framework has been adopted as a Supple- mentary Planning Document (SPD). Developers and architects will therefore be expected to follow the principles laid out in this document when they de- velop their proposals for the area. It will be used by the Council when it decides whether or not to grant planning permission .

1.2 The Study Area

Corporation Street (A2) is a major through-route that links the centres of , Rochester and Chatham. Context Plan Its location immediately beyond the ‘gateway’ of Rochester Bridge gives it great prominence. It forms the ‘arrival’ point for many people visiting or driving through Rochester and the wider area. De- spite this, the area suffers from traffic domination, some dereliction and a poor identity.

5 The area covered by this framework divides naturally into three areas:

1. The Boulevard (Corporation Street) Quarter stands between Corporation Street itself and the railway embankment. The relocation of the open air market from the present surface level car park in this location and a proposal for a multi-storey car park on part of the site will free up a major portion of this quarter for compre- hensive redevelopment.

2. The City Wall Quarter is partially defined by surviving Roman and Medieval city walls. It lies immediately to the west of Corporation Street and constitutes the ‘backlands’ of historic Roch- ester . Redevelopment opportunities are limited although significant public realm improvements are desirable as a means of linking historic Rochester with Rochester Riverside.

3. This development brief also includes the area around Rochester Railway Station- the Station Quarter. It is used mainly for car sales and ser- Quarters diagram vicing and could be the subject of comprehen- sive redevelopment proposals.

6 The separation of the three areas is emphasised by • Attractive and high quality publicly accessible Corporation Street: The Vision the wide and busy Corporation Street itself- the open space and public realm; focus and defining feature of the entire area. • An active and vibrant environment that comple- Improvements to the streetscape and junctions along ments Rochester High Street and the land uses An elegant tree-lined street backed by fine the length of the street have the