The year in review

2024 was a landmark year for Peel Waters. 

As the calendar year draws to a close, take a look at some of the key highlights from Chatham Waters including us developing 237 affordable homes on behalf of Legal & General Affordable Homes, and securing planning permission for our employment campus at Chatham Docks; as well as what announcements and milestones to look out for in 2025.

Cavalier Court completion
237 new affordable homes built

This summer we reached a major construction milestone, completing 237 new homes at Chatham Waters. We [Peel Waters] were appointed as the developer of the site to deliver these affordable and shared ownership homes on behalf of Legal & General Affordable Homes. Cavalier Court is split across two blocks named Minerva Place (which we completed in January 2024) and Victory Place (which we completed in July 2024).

We used local contractor O’Halloran & O’Brien Group as our building partner to deliver the scheme. 170 local people were employed to work on the construction of the site, as well as enlisting the help off students from the onsite Waterfront UTC offering them valuable on-site learning and upskilling opportunities.

98 of these new homes are available for affordable rent to applicants from the Medway’s housing waiting list and a further 139 will be offered as shared ownership.

Reflection from Ema Blay, Head of Delivery at Legal & General Affordable Homes: 

“When Legal and General Affordable Homes were first introduced to this site in 2020, we were immediately excited by Peel’s vision and ambition for Chatham Waters and their clear mandate for well designed, good quality, mixed tenure housing. We shared Peel’s enthusiasm for creating a new neighbourhood and the benefits it would bring for both new and existing residents. Through collaboration with Peel Waters, OHOB, professional consultants and the team at Medway Council, Legal and General Affordable Homes have delivered a total of 237 affordable homes – Our largest scheme to date!

This scheme perfectly embodies Legal and General Affordable Homes commitment to building thriving communities where people can flourish. Chatham Waters is a shining example of our vision for high-quality, affordable homes that serve as a foundation for brighter futures.”

Read more about Cavalier Court here.

Planning approval for transformational business campus – Basin3

Medway Council formalised its planning decision to approve our plans to regenerate an 18-acre Industrial Estate in Gillingham, Kent, into a high-spec, sustainable employment and enterprise campus named Basin3.

Basin3’s high-quality, sustainable and versatile waterfront space will actively promote job creation by catering to businesses aligned with the council’s target growth sectors. The brownfield site is located opposite Medway’s university cluster and will act as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration; helping retain talent and knowledge in Medway, by creating new opportunities for graduates.

The approved development will see the creation of a new waterside footpath and cycle way stretching over half a kilometre, connecting existing residential communities as well as safely opening up part of the Medway waterfront to the public for the first time in its history.

Reflection from James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters: 

“This decision means we can now focus on delivering Basin3, working with our partners to build a high-quality, sustainable employment campus that will complement the surrounding business, educational and residential communities. By having outline planning permission for this brownfield site, it builds a stronger case to attract in both prospective employers and inward investment.”

You can read more about Basin3 here.

Party on the promenade! Chatham Waters Summer Social 2024

This year’s colourful community celebrations brought hundreds of neighbours together for a party on the promenade. Residents, councillors and local businesses came together to browse the local street food pop-ups and artisan market along the promenade selling local Kent Wine, candles and produce and families enjoyed mini golf in the dock gardens. A striking showpiece of this year’s event was a vintage red Routemaster bus, which had been converted into a bar.

We had a variety of live music acts on our waterside stage with a special performance from the Music Man Project Kent – a regional division of The Music Man Project Charity, who provide accessible musical education for children and adults with learning disabilities and support equal performance opportunities on the world’s biggest stages.

The purpose of our Summer Social is to give back to our community and encourage neighbours to meet, mix and make new friendships. The event is also a chance to relax in a deckchair, have fun on the waterside and make memories with families.

We organised this year’s event in partnership with Avison Young, Legal & General Affordable Homes, O’Halloran and O’Brien Group; Way of Life and X1 Sales and Lettings with additional support in kind from Medway Council.

Reflection from Melissa Green, Head of Operations at X1 Sales and Lettings:  

“We were thrilled to support the Chatham Waters Summer Social event and contribute to a cause that aligns so closely with our values. At X1, we believe in fostering community spirit whilst making a positive impact and it was incredible to see the residents of the Chatham Waters neighbourhood come together to share the day. We are proud to have been part of such an inspiring event and look forward to the future for Chatham Waters.”

You can watch the highlights video or read more from our partners about this year’s Chatham Waters Summer Social here.

What to look out for in 2025…

The opening of our new central park

Filled with natural play areas, landscaped lawns, social spaces and enhanced connectivity through the site, our new park is set to be completed early in 2025.

Families will be able to enjoy new areas for active play, with a timber rope bridge, stepping stumps, climbing net, play boulders, balance beam and see-saw all set to be installed with the park.

A community garden area, including a fruit orchard and raised planters for residents to grow herbs and vegetables in, has also been designed into the park. The area will be named ‘Andrew’s Allotment’ after our dear Peel Waters’ colleague Andrew Malcolm Dickson who project managed several of the developments at Chatham Waters for many years and sadly passed away in 2023.

You can find out more about the new park here.

Elderly Living development starting on site

Specialist healthcare developer Montpelier Estates will also be breaking ground in early 2025 to start constructing their high-quality homes for elderly people. The development made up of 72 en-suite rooms and five assisted living apartments will also feature a ground-floor bistro café, small cinema, spa and beauty salon, keep fit and activity spaces for both residents and the local community.