Property regeneration specialist U+I has submitted plans to build 1,000 new homes in the London City Region.

The company is proposing to develop four mixed-use projects worth over £250 million in Ashford, Maidstone, Swanley and Woking.

Designed by Guy Hollaway Architects, the Ashford scheme will see the construction of 200 residential units, a 120-bed hotel, an Aldi food store, a new Chapel Down brewery and visitor centre, and a retail/commercial space, created on a six-acre site opposite Ashford International train station. With the potential to create 165 jobs, construction could start in early 2017 pending approvals.

The two-phase site in Maidstone already has planning consent for 192 residential units in the first phase. An application for the second phase, which will be submitted shortly, includes plans for 300 residential units also designed by Guy Hollaway Architects. The development aims to transform a derelict site into a new residential community with a 17-storey landmark building.


An application to extend and enhance Swanley Square shopping centre in Swanley was submitted in July. Designed by HLM Architects, plans include building 350 residential units, 46,780 sq. ft. of new commercial and retail, restaurants, shops, new office space and a new car park.

The final project in Woking will see the vacant Elizabeth House office building redeveloped into 241 new homes, 5,700 sq. ft. of offices, small retail and start up units, restaurants and cafes alongside landscaped communal gardens. The development has been designed by architects RTKL.

Richard Upton, Deputy CEO of U+I, said: "We are making good progress at each of these sites, all located within the London City Region "Huburbs" and within an hour's commute of central London. The plans submitted prioritise the development of high quality, mid-market homes with easy access to the centre of London in locations where housing demand continues to grow."

The UK's rental market was recently valued at £1.29 trillion and is expected to make up 22% of the country's housing market by 2025.

(Image: CGI of development scheme proposed for Ashford)

(LM)