welcome
residential towers, a hotel, a theatre
and conference centre Ð landmark
buildings, a city skyline.
We have 9,000 students in four
universities at Chatham Maritime,
a population of 250,000 set to grow
to 300,000 and excellent transport
links to London, Dover and Europe.
In 2009, high-speed commuter
services on the Channel Tunnel
Rail Link will put us half an hour
from central London.
Our regeneration drive will deliver
16,000 new homes and 40,000 jobs.
Medway has become a favourite
location for TV news coverage of
regeneration stories because we
have the shots they need Ð shots
of regeneration in action.
Leading Thames Gateway figures
have described us as a shining
example of how to deliver major
regeneration. They talk of the
ÔMedway modelÕ.
Our regeneration programme
was kick-started by £120million
of public money for the acquisition
and preparation of prime
development sites along seven
miles of the River Medway. Now
private sector money is turning
our vision into reality.
WeÕre developing an Ôinvestment
partnershipÕ with regeneration
specialists St Modwen Properties PLC.
I lost count of how many times IÕve
heard those words many years and
many artistsÕ impressions agoÉ
But these days I hear it less and
less. And a year from now IÕm
confident that all but MedwayÕs
most hardened sceptics will have
stopped saying it.
Because in 2008/2009 people
will see many of those artistÕs
impressions becoming reality. They
will see major physical change as
the Ôdelivery phaseÕ of MedwayÕs
£1billion regeneration programme
gathers pace.
On our flagship Rochester Riverside
regeneration site, with its great
views of our famous castle and
cathedral, they will see developers
appointed to build the first 600 of
2,000 new homes Ð together with
a striking new hotel.
Away from the 70 acres of
Rochester Riverside, regeneration
projects will start to take shape
on numerous other key sites across
the emerging new Ôriver cityÕ of the
Thames Gateway.
That is the vision. Nothing less.
A new world-class City of Medway
with Chatham transformed as the
cityÕs retail, commercial and cultural
hub. Pioneering architect Ken Yeang
has seen the Ôvast potentialÕ of
Chatham Waterfront. His masterplans
for the site show striking
Medway Council
Delivering the new river city of the Thames Gateway
Cllr Rodney Chambers, Leader of Medway Council
ÒIÕll believe it when I see itÉÓ
A new world-class
City of Medway
with Chatham
transformed as
the cityÕs retail,
commercial and
cultural hub
Cllr Rodney Chambers,
Leader of Medway Council
welcome
This is expected to generate more
than £1billion.
We are unique in the Thames
Gateway in having our own
regeneration unit Ð Medway
Renaissance.
Our regeneration will be strategic,
not piecemeal. We will deliver
places and spaces of the highest
quality, not urban sprawl.
The renowned architect Sir Terry
Farrell is MedwayÕs ÔDesign
ChampionÕ. He believes that in
all 40 miles of the vast Thames
Gateway regeneration zone,
Medway is the region with the
greatest potential.

Pictures courtesy of Medway Renaissance
And Sir Terry is a big fan of what
may become MedwayÕs boldest
regeneration project.
WeÕre exploring the idea of a
ÔskycabÕ cable car system that would
cross the river at key points,
connecting the new city.
Proof Ð if it were needed Ð that for
Medway the skyÕs the limit.
Cllr Rodney Chambers,
Leader of Medway Council
Medway is the biggest regeneration zone in the Thames Gateway and includes up to 16,000 new homes
Publicising regeneration on ITV1
The Drill Hall Library, Medway University