UK housebuilder Bellway has completed the acquisition of a parcel of land for the delivery of 66 new homes in Rainham, Kent.
The land deal, which was finalised on 28 February, is the culmination of work by Bellway Strategic Land to secure planning permission for the nine-acre plot north of Moor Street.
The new development, which will be called Wakeley Meadow, will be built by Bellway’s Kent division, with construction of the new homes set to begin this month.
Bellway is to build 49 private properties, featuring a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses, and 17 affordable homes, offering a variety of one to three-bedroom properties including four maisonettes, alongside green open space.
Ben Stacey, Bellway Strategic Land director (South), said: “The expertise of the Strategic Land team has been crucial to getting this project to this point, in both identifying this land as a sustainable location for new homes, and then navigating proposals through the planning process to secure approval for the project.
“The development sits in a prime location in Rainham, being less than a mile from the town’s railway station, within walking distance of the high street, and with bus stops close to the site’s boundary.
“We conducted significant pre-application consultation with key stakeholders, including the local planning authority, council members and the local community.
“This process was entered into to ensure that the scheme delivered an appropriate amount of housing, landscaping and public open space to meet the requirements of future residents while respecting the neighbouring conservation area.”
Wakeley Meadow will feature tree-lined streets, a green belt of trees and hedges around the perimeter, a central area of public open space and a play area.
As part of the planning agreement, Bellway is to invest more than £550,000 into improving local facilities, including education provision and health services.
Ben added: “The landscaping design has been carefully planned to produce a more than 10% improvement in biodiversity habitats on the site.
“Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained wherever possible, while new trees and hedgerows will be planted alongside multiple areas of wildflower meadow, which will attract pollinators to the site. Bird and bat boxes, hedgehog houses, log piles and hibernacula will provide shelter for local wildlife.
“Meanwhile, our carbon-reduction strategy is evidenced by the provision of energy-efficient air source heat pumps (ASHPs), solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and cycle storage to encourage greener forms of heating and transport.”
