The first major mixed-use development to start on site in the Thames Gateway, and the first dedicated infrastructure system are both being launched in Dartford this week. The Bridge, a £400 million regeneration project and the first phase of Fastrack, a high quality transport system, are expected to set new standards for subsequent developments in the Thames Gateway.

To mark the start of these two initiatives, Yvette Cooper MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning and Stephen Ladyman MP, Minister of State for Transport visited The Bridge in Dartford to officially launch both the 264 acre development and the first phase of Fastrack.

The Bridge is being developed by ProLogis Developments Ltd and Dartford Borough Council, who have brought together a creative team of designers including Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway of HemingwayDesign and architects Broadway Malyan, to create a lively new community that will include 1,500 new homes, 1.5 million square feet of commercial space and bring up to 7,500 new jobs to North Kent.

Together with a 670,000 sq ft distribution centre that has already been pre-let to J Sainsbury plc, The Bridge will provide 500,000 sq ft of offices and the 328,000 sq ft London Science Park. The Science Park will include an Innovation Centre with direct intranet links to every home, some of which have been designed to accommodate start-up businesses. Construction work on the Innovation Centre will start on 3 April this year, while the Sainsbury’s regional distribution centre will start on site at the beginning of May.

The first phase of 1,134 new homes will be developed by George Wimpey plc on a 48 acre site and is due to start on site by the end of 2006. George Wimpey is working with ProLogis and Dartford Borough Council to make sure that the whole development sets high standards of architectural design and urban planning as well as for handling issues such as biodiversity, waste management and the effective use of information technology. With a forward-thinking community school, health centre, neighbourhood shops, cafes and excellent public transport set within extensive public open space, The Bridge will have all the building blocks to form a lively, thriving, sustainable development where people can enjoy living and working at every stage of life.

The Bridge will be served by the second phase of Fastrack, a dedicated transport system which will link the development to Dartford town centre and surrounding amenities, such as Ebbsfleet International Station, Bluewater, Darent Valley Hospital and railway stations at Dartford, Greenhithe and Gravesend. Construction of over six miles of Fastrack carriageway has already begun and the service is on schedule to open in Spring 2007 in time for the arrival of the first residents at The Bridge.

Meanwhile, the £49.4 million infrastructure and site services contract is well underway. Contractor Alfred McAlpine plc is, for example, laying 10 miles of new roads, including the Fastrack carriageway and the installation of over 72,000 feet of electric cable, 148,000 ft of telecom ducting and more than 35,000 ft of gas and water mains.

Paul Weston, First Vice President at ProLogis said:

“The Bridge is an exciting mixed-use development, which is based on an innovative design approach to community and issues of sustainability. We have made an excellent start at The Bridge and will set a high quality benchmark for the rest of the Thames Gateway.”

Councillor Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council added:

“The Bridge will bring to life the Council’s vision for the comprehensive rebirth of North Dartford. The development will create an attractive new place for people to live and work, set within a beautiful natural environment and I am delighted that Dartford Borough Council is part of such a ground-breaking initiative.”