English National League side Ebbsfleet United have announced that the local council has granted planning permission for its proposed Northfleet Harbourside development.
Situated next to the River Thames and connected with Northfleet’s historic harbour, the 50-acre Northfleet Harbourside development will incorporate a brand-new stadium, with a capacity for 8,000 people, as well as a mixed use development including 300,000ft2 of new shops, restaurants, bars, cafés and leisure spaces. There will be a new community retail centre and a 300-bed hotel, in addition to 150,000ft2 of commercial office space. There will also be 3,500 new homes, which will be a combination of both private and affordable housing.
Ebbsfleet United FC will retain freehold and management control of the new-build £40 million (US$50 million) multi-use community stadium and event facilities. This will secure the club’s future for generations to come and provide stable, self-generating income and revenue towards the club’s ultimate goal of sustainable high-performance.
“Today is a truly significant day in our club’s great history and for the people and communities of Northfleet and Gravesend,” said Damian Irvine, chief executive officer at Ebbsfleet United FC, as the news was announced. “The outcome has been the result of many months of hard work and collaboration with Gravesham Borough Council, our development partners and team, and the project’s investors.
“We set about conceiving a plan and solution that would see our football ground developed to a leading standard that was feasible financially within a wider development, and which also provided regeneration of services and contributed to an overall significant uplift to our local community and Borough, reflecting the council’s own regeneration strategy and legacy plan for future generations. It’s a proud and exciting day to receive planning approval from GBC that will be the catalyst for such substantial investment into Gravesham Borough and its communities.”
Northfleet Harbourside will be a new neighbourhood for local people, football fans and visitors to enjoy. There will be new pedestrian and cycle paths, green spaces, children’s play spaces, and medical and sports facilities all within walking distance.
Northfleet Harbourside Development Company has been created, backed by a consortium of international investors, to deliver the scheme.
Now outline planning consent has been achieved, Northfleet Harbourside Development Company will begin working with Gravesham Borough Council to develop more detailed plans for each phase of the scheme.
Images courtesy of Ebbsfleet United FC.
