Developers have revealed plans which would complete a 30-year redevelopment of a former Royal Navy dockyard.

The scheme at Chatham Historic Dockyard would see hundreds of new homes, as well as shops and offices, built on the remaining undeveloped part of the ex-naval base.

The dockyard closed in 1984 and over the past three decades it has been transformed into a popular tourism and leisure destination and is home to hundreds of businesses and three universities.

The final piece of the jigsaw for Chatham Maritime could see 274 homes built on a 2.7-hectare site on the waterfront next to one of the huge covered slipways previously used to build and repair warships.

The site, known as the Interface Land, has been split into two sectors named Brunel and Riverside.

Brunel would start first, at the end of 2022, with the Riverside phase commencing a year later.

A planning application has not yet been submitted with developers expecting to file the designs with Medway Council in summer 2021 following an archaeological impact survey.

The overall development, which would incorporate 11,000 sq ft of commercial space – made up of a mixture of retail, office and creative spaces – is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

Development firm Countryside agreed a contract with the government's housing agency, Homes England, in late March.

A quarter of the homes – a total of 69 – would be affordable housing and 163 apartments and 24 houses are currently planned to be put on the open market, Countryside says.

The project has already been controversial after the Medway branch of the Royal Naval Sailing Association was handed their notice from previous landowners Homes England after 11 years, leaving the group homeless.

Andy Fancy, managing director for Countryside's Partnerships North and South London branch, said the Chatham dockyard development would provide an opportunity to "build on the successes of existing communities".

He added: "We will continue our commitment to creating lasting communities for everyone by integrating existing residents with new neighbours."

Countryside is the same construction firm working on the regeneration scheme up the road at Rochester Riverside.

Last week, the company announced it is starting work on the third phase of that scheme which will see another 171 homes built as part of a £417m project in partnership with co-developers Hyde.

Stephen Kinsella, chief land and development officer for Homes England, said: "The development of the Chatham sites will conclude the 30-year Chatham Maritime regeneration and it is fitting that Countryside, a long-term partner at Chatham, completes the final homes.

“Homes England is open for business and continuing to support housebuilding recovery during this challenging time.”

A long and illustrious history

The area has been transformed since the closure of the dockyard in the mid-1980s. At its peak the dockyard employed more than 10,000 workers.

Naval ships were built at Chatham from as early as 1547 and some of the nation's greatest vessels – including Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar HMS Victory and HMS Temeraire – were built there.

St Mary's Island, the site of the original naval dockyard, was developed as early as the 16th century. It is also known to have been used by the Romans as an important ferry crossing across the River Medway.

By the Tudor period, Chatham was well established as one of England's premier naval ports and harboured a vast majority of the fleet.

It was rebuilt in the 18th century as the Royal Navy expanded during the Georgian era and Britain sought to gain a grip and build her empire across the globe built on far-reaching world trade and colonisation.

Buildings from the period still exist today including the Officer's Terrace, mast ponds and various sheds as well as the huge covered slips and sail lofts and ropery buildings.

Further additions under Queen Victoria means Chatham Dockyard has one of the highest concentrations of historic listed buildings – mostly Grade I and Grade II – in the country.

In the 20th century, Chatham was home to a vast workforce which maintained nuclear submarines and the warships of the First and Second World Wars.

The land ship at Chatham – known as HMS Pembroke – which was a centre for officers and training sailors has been converted into the Chatham Maritime campuses of the University of Kent, Greenwich University and Canterbury Christ Church University.

Other parts of the former dockyard now include the Dockside Outlet and marina, where HMS Medway was commissioned into the Royal Navy during a ceremony last year.

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