With a new garden city set to blossom at Ebbsfleet, campaigners for good design and environmental protection are holding a trailblazing conference.

Kent Design, based in Chatham Historic Dockyard, says that urgent thought needs to be given to the shape of the 15,000-home garden city between Dartford and Gravesend.

The conference on Friday, October 24 will discuss one of Europe’s most important urban design and planning projects.

It could also come up with answers to the UK’s housing supply problem.

Speakers will include council leaders Paul Carter (Kent County Council), Jeremy Kite (Dartford) and John Burden (Gravesham).

They will be joined by some of the UK’s leading architects, planners and academics including Sir Terry Farrell, and Mark Davis, of the Department for Communities and Local Government in charge of developing Ebbsfleet Garden City.

“It is vital that local and central government shares the best design and planning expertise..." - Design South East's Chris Lamb

Chris Lamb, director of Design South East, which manages Kent Design,Vit said: “It is vital that local and central government shares the best design and planning expertise to ensure that Ebbsfleet garden city balances housing pressure against high quality design, environment and social sustainability, community cohesion and the promotion of better mental and physical wellbeing.”

There was an “amazing opportunity” for Ebbsfleet to pioneer new and successful new places and communities elsewhere, “so it’s vital that we get it right.”

Mr Lamb added: “It’s only right that we are doing what we can to focus minds on Ebbsfleet garden city and ensure it really is not only a new garden city fit for the county, but also a model for new communities that are fit for the 21 century.”

The garden city movement was developed by Ebenezer Howard in 1898 to improve poor Victorian housing conditions and growing urban pressures.

It promised planned, self-contained communities with easy access to green spaces.

The conference is being held at Eastgate, Springhead, Ebbsfleet, from 9am to 1.30pm. Admission is free to Kent Design members and £145 to non-members.

More details at www.kentdesign.org.