Welbeck Land has been named as the preferred developer for part of a £1bn regeneration project in Rochester.

As tipped by Property Week (news 13.07.07), Welbeck will deliver the hotel and retail element of Rochester Riverside, which is part of one of Kent’s largest regeneration schemes. A 15-year regeneration programme, it will deliver 2,000 homes, offices, shops, a hotel, school and restaurants.

The developer was given the Green light by Medway Council late last week. The South East England Development Agency is the council’s project partners on Rochester Riverside.

Welbeck plans a 150-bedroom, four-storey, four-star hotel with 8,500 sq ft of conference space. It will provide a physical link between the historic area of Rochester and the new development.

Other buildings in the five proposed development blocks would be a mix of homes, business premises, restaurants, pubs and community facilities.

Leader of Medway Council Cllr Rodney Chambers, said: ‘The current level of interest in Medway from the private sector in general – and hotel operators in particular – is great news for our regeneration programme.

‘The hotel industry is well aware that Medway is a prime growth area, not just for housing and employment, but also a major visitor destination close to London, Ebbsfleet and the Olympics.’

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