The expected completion date for a major development delivering more than 200 flats has edged closer as work continues “at pace”.

KentOnline has gone behind the scenes at The Charter, in Gravesend town centre, to see how the multi-million pound scheme is progressing since new contractors came on board in August.

The flagship redevelopment forms part of Gravesham council's masterplan plan to breathe new life into the area and includes a multi-storey car park and 242 build-to-rent apartments.

The scheme, split across the former Market Square and Horn Yard car parks, is being developed by Rosherville Ltd, the wholly owned commercial trading arm of the local authority, in partnership with Reef Group.

Work initially started on the project in 2021 after being granted planning permission in 2020.

However, last summer it suddenly ground to a halt when the then-contractor Henry Construction collapsed into administration.

Since work stopped Rosherville Ltd and Reef Group were looking to get the project back on track and a month later initial preparation works started on the site by construction firm Statom Group.

In May, the scheme was taken over by Curo Construction who began enabling works and four months later it became the appointed contractor to finish the job.

Project director Brad Coker told KentOnline work was continuing “at pace” and 150 people were working on the site, with the hopes of increasing that to 200 tradesmen in the coming weeks.

However, having taken the project on mid-construction explained his teams have had to replace and fix parts of the structure due to water damage.

Rumours have been rife within the community, with some claiming that the development was not structurally sound, had been built using the wrong concrete and there were tunnels running beneath threatening the foundations.

They were quickly shut down by chairman of Rosherville Ltd, Jamie Izzard, who branded them “outlandish theories” at the time.

And Brad has now moved to assure people once again that there are no faults with the concrete, the structure or the foundations.

He added: “We turned up and started working but it looked like it had just been abandoned really.

“The big two issues were the plasterboards internally which were water damaged and the brickwork externally It has been stripped out and is being replaced.”

Bricklayer and project manager Freddie Leary added: “It is challenging as it is not a traditional new build job, it is almost a refurbishment as work had previously already started.

“However, it is going well. It is improving and we have got a great team in there with all the other tradies.”

Freddie, who lives near Woodlands Park in Gravesend, has been on the project for the past six weeks and said it will take around six months to complete the brickwork needed.

Once complete, it will see 242 apartments - 109 one-bedroom, 117 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom, split across three buildings, available for rent.

Rosherville Ltd has confirmed that the market rent will be calculated using an average of local wages and 20% of the flats will be at a reduced price.

Chairman Jamie also reiterated that the homes will be marketed to Gravesham residents first and are not being sold to any other boroughs.

He said: “We want to benefit Gravesham residents and there will be a massive improvement to the public area.

“The project supports the regeneration of Gravesend Riverside with section 106 money being used to upgrade St Andrew’s Gardens.”

Gravesham councillor Lenny Rolles (Lab) added: “We recognise the council waiting list for housing has, like every other borough across the country, more people than properties available so we got building.

“It is going to be a very different offering to what is already in Gravesham. Bring a bed and a sofa - they will be ready to move in.

“This site has taken a long time to come to fruition and there have been lots of plans and thinking needed to bring it forward.

“It is quite unique and we want to offer the flats in the first instance to Gravesham residents.”

The Charter will also have a multi-storey car park with 186 spaces of which 100 will be available for public use and more than 1,400sq m of indoor and outdoor amenity space including three rooftop gardens.

A large amount of roof space will also be covered in solar panels with the energy produced either being used by the development or sold back to the grid.

The Charter is expected to be complete by February 2026.