Designed to integrate the needs of commercial occupiers and residents with a thoughtful approach to the natural environment, The Bridge is creating a fully sustainable community for the Thames Gateway.

Land Use, Urban Form and Design

Mixing employment and residential development with community, retail and leisure facilities, this 264-acre brownfield site is becoming a lively new neighbourhood set within 80-acres of public open space. With over 60 dwellings per hectare, strong visual interest has been created by the variety of building heights and massing, punctuated by focal points such as the learning and community campus.

Transport

The masterplan has been designed to minimise the need for private vehicles by encouraging everyone living and working at The Bridge to walk, cycle or use public transport. One of the main routes of the award-winning Fastrack bus service runs through The Bridge, linking the development to shopping and leisure facilities in Dartford town centre and Bluewater as well as to railway stations at Dartford, Greenhithe, Gravesend and Ebbsfleet International. A network of footpaths and cycle ways link the different areas of the site, while Homezone principles have been applied to residential courtyards and street parking to encourage the shared use of outside space and reduce the impact of cars.

Ecology

Including around 80 acres of public open space, The Bridge has been sensitively designed to protect and enhance the natural environment. Before any infrastructure work started on the development, plans were put in place to safeguard the resident populations of bats, water voles, fish, common lizards, and invertebrates while at the same time, retaining and improving their natural habitats. Working with Kent Wildlife Trust, ProLogis has put together a plan for nature conservation on the site to include grassland, scrub, woodland and lakeside habitats. This includes the newly created blueways and greenways together with the new hedgerows that will be planted around the site.

Environment

While the first residential phase has been planned to achieve a minimum standard of BREEAM Ecohomes ‘Good’, the offices and science park buildings have been designed to reach a minimum BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, with features that can upgrade the rating to ‘Excellent’. Innovative re-cycling centres are being built in the residential area, a flood strategy has been adopted and a sustainable urban drainage system has been installed across the site.

Community

A learning and community campus is being built at the heart of The Bridge within easy walking distance of the new residential districts. Along with a primary school, healthcare and social services facilities, the campus will include facilities that are open to everyone living and working at the development. These include a sports hall, library point and all-weather sports fields. With new homes arranged in a way that encourages people to get to know each other and allows children to play safely, a new community is starting to flourish and The Bridge is evolving into a place where everyone who lives there can feel at home.

Economic

Designed to encourage an entrepreneurial culture and new knowledge-based industries, The Bridge provides space for start-up companies alongside accommodation for well-established companies and will deliver up to 7,500 jobs across a broad range of skills. The on-site JobShop and LearningShop services enable local people to seek employment both during the construction phase and with new commercial occupiers. Similarly, a full range of business services including access to funding and links to universities at a national and international level are available on site to help organisations based at The Bridge to make the most of every business opportunity.