54. Bridge over troubled water at Joyce Green Hospital

Key words/phrases: The Bridge Project, George Wimpey plc, First Time Buyer’s Initiative, Wayne Hemingway, The Bluewater Shopping Centre, Darent Valley Hospital, The Crossways Business Park, Temple Hill, Dartford Station

No. 54

In view of the fact that large parts of England are severely flooded at the moment - an almost unprecedented situation - and with the threat of further flooding still hanging precariously over swathes of countryside near to other rivers, including the Thames, it is perhaps encouraging to hear some good news about some progress relating to “The Bridge Project” on the old Joyce Green Hospital and Littlebrook lakes sites ?

However, with this “new English Lake District” peering out at us from our television screens and national newspapers, one cannot helping wondering how safe from flooding “The Bridge Project” site will be, given the history of flooding in this area in the past.

Ex-members of Joyce Green staff, ex-patients and anyone else with an interest in the area and for those who might be contemplating purchasing property alongside that part of the river, may be interested to hear that the first batch of houses has been completed and are currently on sale with one-bedroom apartments starting at £175,000.

To help first-time buyers to purchase homes on “The Bridge” estate, George Wimpey plc. has teamed up with English Partnerships to offer properties via the new First Time Buyer’s Initiative that will allow first time buyers to obtain an equity loan for up to half a property’s value - thus enabling them to get on to the U.K. property ladder when otherwise they might not have been able to afford to do so.

During the next seven years the 264 acre site is scheduled to see the appearance of 1,100 new homes within an existing environment of mature trees and water features and Wayne Hemingway, one of the housing designers involved who seems committed to ensuring that landscaping and green spaces are a major part of the various residential segments was quoted recently as saying "that green spaces have been ignored in the overall design of large housing developments for far too long”.

“We believe, "he continued "that not only is such landscaping important in environmental terms but that it can also help in the creation of a caring society”. "I also believe,” he said, “that house builders and urban designers have positive roles to play in combating our 21st century ‘couch potato culture' which can result in health and behavioural problems”.

“But the economic value of landscaping is also significant,” he says, “because green spaces can add value to a property with recent studies in Chicago, Amsterdam and the UK showing that properties overlooking green open spaces often attract significantly higher prices”.

In terms of communication links there is to be a new fast-track transport system connecting hubs such as Dartford and Gravesend town centres, the nearby Bluewater Shopping Centre, Darent Valley Hospital and the Crossways Business Park and in addition a new bridge is going to be constructed over the M25 to provide to connect “The Bridge” estate and the Crossways Business Park with Temple Hill and Dartford Station.

How different the old Joyce Green Hospital and Littlebrook areas is going to look in 2012 or 2013 when the development is completed, although in view of the flooding that is currently affecting many people in parts of southern England one can only hope that global warming and climatic changes will not cause havoc on “The Bridge” estate in years to come !