Major reclamation planned for Port of Sheerness
Consulting engineering firm Royal Haskoning has been engaged by The Peel Group to prepare a masterplan for the Port of Sheerness in Kent. This is the preface to a fifteen year regeneration programme for the area, which will deliver a major port expansion and one of the largest regeneration projects in the South East of England.
The masterplan represents a major development that will not only allow for expansion of the port. It will also establish a new community, promenade, landmark marina, and a raft of new homes which will see the population increase by almost half, and aims to re-establish Sheerness as a visitor destination.
The project proposal includes the creation of a major land reclamation in the Thames Estuary, which could potentially provide over 120 hectares of new land. This will be shared between the port and new development, and include new deep water berths to allow the port to expand its capacity, a new marina, new homes, retail, leisure and light industrial space.
An additional consideration for the area is the restoration of its heritage, which dates back to the Sixteenth Century when Sheerness was used as a major naval base until its closure in the 1960’s. One of the key objectives of this project involves bringing many of the port’s Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Listed Buildings back into public use through conversion and restoration.
‘The Peel Group is committed to the regeneration of the town of Sheerness and the Isle of Sheppey, said Phil Rothwell, Peel’s senior development planning manager. ‘We are pleased to appoint the consultant team led by Royal Haskoning on the next phase of the masterplanning work. With support from local and regional partners we are confident that we can bring forward a masterplan which will help regenerate the town and bring new investment and jobs to the area.
‘The economic health of Sheerness is directly linked to the port, which is now at capacity in many areas and must expand to consolidate its position as a vital gateway for the South East’, added Dale Thomson, principal consultant for Royal Haskoning.
The masterplan is being led by Royal Haskoning, alongside VHP Architects, Knight Frank, Scott Wilson and Rubicon Regeneration. Extensive local and regional consultation is about to commence with a planning application expected in 2013.
