Canterbury Riverside - Transforming Kingsmead

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1 Canterbury Riverside - Transforming Kingsmead Welcome to our exhibition of proposals to regenerate the existing Serco Depot and former coach park in the Kingsmead area of Canterbury. The exhibition provides information about the emerging plans for the Canterbury Riverside site and allows the opportunity for you to speak with representatives of the project team who are on hand to answer any questions that you may have. Background The continued redevelopment of the Kingsmead area of Canterbury is one of Canterbury City Council s key priorities and the Kingsmead area is identified as a Regeneration Zone in the Canterbury Local Plan 2006 (Policy TC13). The Kingsmead Development Brief, adopted in 2004, sets out the development aspirations for the area. The Brief has resulted in several high-quality developments in Kingsmead and this site is one of the key and final pieces of the Development Brief jigsaw. The City Council marketed the site to potential development partners, based on the original 2004 Development Brief, the public response to the previous proposals, and uses designated in the Local Plan. A key aspect to a successful bid was the provision of a deliverable scheme anchored by a multi-screen cinema. Sainsbury s Key In May 2015 Bouygues Development were chosen as Canterbury City Council s preferred Development Partner. Since that time, Bouygues have been working with the Council to finalise the necessary legal agreements, which have now been completed. The wider area Bouygues Development is therefore presenting emerging proposals for Kingsmead s regeneration which include a high quality mixed-use development anchored by a multi-screen cinema, alongside family homes and student accommodation. Indicative CGI showing view from Northgate roundabout

2 Site Analysis & Opportunities The site is bordered by the River Stour to the northern boundary, Kingsmead Road to the south, Sturry Road (A28) to the east and properties on New Town Street to the north east. The site is in need of regeneration and currently comprises the Serco Depot, a public car park, ATS Euromaster, Canterbury Used Cars sales and a number of residential properties. Constraints and opportunities to the development of the site have been identified through initial evaluations and discussions with the City Council. This analysis has been key to informing the emerging proposals for the site. The plan below indicates that the site has a number of constraints which have been considered in evolving initial proposals. There is also a wide range of opportunities to deliver many community benefits as part of a high quality development in the heart of Kingsmead. N A D B C A B E C Constraints and opportunities D Key opportunities: Meeting the identified need for improved leisure facilities (especially a new cinema) close to Canterbury City Centre Providing improved public access to the River Stour Creating a high-quality frontage to Kingsmead Road and Sturry Road Making the area into a destination for leisure activities Ensuring good connections to the City Centre and Northgate E Site photos

3 What is proposed? The emerging plans for the site seek to respond to the aspirations of the Council and local community to provide a high quality mixed-use development anchored by a multi-screen cinema as part of a vibrant and viable new neighbourhood. The proposed redevelopment comprises: A new state-of-the-art cinema with 8 to 10 screens A wide range of commercial units, including restaurants, shops, bars and other leisure uses A cultural square providing an area to host civic events, markets, outdoor theatre productions and seasonal activities such as ice skating 500 purpose built and managed student living units A mixture of 65 family homes and apartments 300 car parking spaces in an undercroft car park Additional parking for all family homes and apartments Opening up public access to the River Stour through a new riverside walkway Zoning and opportunities Section along Kingsmead Road

4 Riverside Leisure Square The Canterbury Riverside proposal seeks to create a vibrant new leisure square in the heart of Kingsmead to serve the residents of Canterbury and further afield. The key anchor of this mixed use scheme is a multi-screen cinema flanked by a series of restaurants, bars and cafés. The leisure square could also provide a range of other leisure uses, depending on market interest, such as bowling or indoor golf etc. Bouygues is currently in discussions with major cinema chains and has already received significant industry interest from other leisure use providers and a number of quality café and restaurant operators. As part of your feedback, we would like to hear your thoughts about what type of leisure uses would be welcomed. Indicative CGI showing the open leisure space The focal point of the leisure square will be a cultural area providing an active and flexible public open space. This area is located as the centre point of the development and will have physical links to the proposed riverside paths and to the centre of Canterbury via Northgate. Indicative sketch of central square

5 A Mixed Use Scheme It is important that the development provides a mix of uses in order to create a vibrant new neighbourhood. The proposals therefore include a mixture of family homes, apartments and purpose built student units which will ensure the development has a permanent and balanced population. Indicative CGI showing part of the residential area Family Homes and Apartments The eastern part of the site has been assigned for a range of family homes and apartments as it is close to existing residential properties. Dedicated on-site parking will be provided for all the family homes and apartments. It is proposed that the development will provide approximately 65 new homes. Meeting the need for Student Accommodation As home to the University of Kent, Canterbury Christchurch University and the University for Creative Arts, Canterbury has a clear need for purpose built student accommodation, which will also alleviate the pressure on existing residential areas in Canterbury. In order to meet a well identified need within the local area, the proposals therefore seek to provide approximately 500 student accommodation units. The introduction of student living apartments will also help to add to the vibrancy of the development by providing a young residential population. The student living units will be located in the centre of the site, supported by common room facilities and cycle storage. A management company will run the student accommodation. Parking is provided for the management company s staff only. Indicative sketch: looking south along Kingsmead Road

6 A Sensitive Design The design seeks to provide contemporary buildings which are considerate to the traditional elements of Canterbury s existing buildings and overall character. The proposed residential buildings will utilise the use of local stone, brick with a mixture of flagstone and cobbled streets. The proposed rooflines have been carefully chosen to provide breaks in the built form through pitched roofs and steep gables. The streetscape for Kingsmead and Sturry Road are important and will require careful consideration. Indicative sketch showing views to the cathedral Views to the Cathedral The building heights proposed are designed to respond sympathetically to the existing surrounding buildings and, in particular, preserve views to Canterbury Cathedral. The proposed cinema building, the largest element of the proposal, has been positioned outside of the existing lines of sight to the Cathedral, and away from the low level residential properties adjacent to the site. Other buildings have been orientated to ensure minimum impact to the views. The scale, location, and character of Jesus Hospital has also been considered in the evolution of the proposals, and a design is being developed that sets the new buildings back from this listed building. Visual linkage diagram Public access to the riverside A key objective of the regeneration of Canterbury Riverside is to safeguard and improve public access to the River Stour through the provision of riverside walks on this side of the river. The initial proposals reflect the Council s Riverside Strategy and are intended to provide a landscaping approach consistent with the riverside treatment at the Kingsbrook Park housing development across the river. Riverside area to the north of the site Space requirement for new sections of riverside walk

7 Transport and Access The Canterbury Riverside site is in a sustainable location within the Kingsmead area. The site is within 1 km of the City Centre and in walking distance of Canterbury West train station. The site is currently well served by existing bus routes, bus stops, footpaths and cycle ways. Traffic movements The proposed site is primarily a leisure development, and typically will not conflict - in terms of traffic - with commuters or the school runs. The residential element of the site is unlikely to have any significant impact on the movement of traffic given the number of homes proposed. The student accommodation has minimal parking and so will not have any traffic impact on the local road network. Servicing to the commercial elements of the proposal would typically be undertaken outside of peak times and given the nature of the uses this will be low intensity. Pedestrian routes Vehicular routes Vehicle access The main vehicular access to the development and the 300 space undercroft car park will be taken from the existing Kingsmead Road roundabout which provides access to the site and to the Sainsbury s foodstore. We are proposing to improve this existing access to better accommodate the proposed development and also incorporate improved access to the site for cyclists. Car park entrance A single vehicular access on Sturry Road would be provided to the residential properties and for the servicing of the commercial and leisure units as well as the student accommodation. The proposed development will therefore reduce the number of vehicle access points on Kingsmead Road and Sturry Road, significantly improving the environment for all road users. Undercroft floor plan TO UNIVERSITY OF KENT Sustainable access The site is close to a number of existing bus stops serving routes in all directions. Enhancements will be made to the pedestrian footways between the site and bus stops to ensure easy access for bus users. Canterbury City Council has a long term aspiration for an extension of the southbound bus lane along Sturry Road and the plans allow for this. The development proposals seek to enhance pedestrian and cyclist linkage between the City Centre to the south of the site and also link to the nearby residential areas. Additionally, these pedestrian links would provide connectivity to the local amenities, including Sainsbury s supermarket, Kingsmead Leisure Centre, Kingsmead Playing Field and Jesus Hospital. Site relationship to the city

8 Next Steps We would like to hear the views of the local community and your comments can be provided by one of the following methods: Online via Complete a comments form today and post it in the white box Take a form home and return using a Freepost envelope from a member of the team Send an to info@canterburyriverside.co.uk Indicative sketch: looking east along Sturry Road Once we have reviewed the comments on our emerging proposals we will finalise our plans ready for a second preview event in the New Year and before a planning application is submitted to Canterbury City Council in the Spring. In the meantime, you can read further information on the proposals and provide feedback, via our website or . Or you can fill in a form today. The Timeline Following this exhibition, the next stages are: REVIEW CONSULTATION COMMENTS Q PREPARE CONCEPT SCHEME FURTHER CONSULTATION Q REVIEW & FINALISE SCHEME SUBMIT PLANNING APPLICATION Q2 2016