We listened to residents and community stakeholders when we consulted last summer (June 22) and a key theme was the need for employment space, this is why this part of the site is the first being put forward.

All existing businesses have been contacted to discuss relocation opportunities, as Peel wish to work with occupiers to help facilitate relocation to ensure that jobs (and supply chain jobs) can be safeguarded where possible. Investigations have identified suitable land for relocation for all these occupiers.

As a legacy naval base, the facility (and particularly the 100-year-old lock gates) require regular and costly maintenance. By 2025, the refurbished gates will need replacing and the cost for replacing the gates in each of the two locks is in excess of £35 million. There is no funding available for this capital investment and the commercial operation of the Port will therefore need to close.

Celebrating Medway’s maritime heritage is important to us. The Industrial Estate sits within Basin3 of Chatham’s former Naval Dockyard which closed in 1984.

Basin 3 was originally part of St Mary's Creek before the area was split into three basins by the Royal Navy back in 1854.

Each Basin is now establishing a distinct identity. Basin 1 is a well-used marina and Basin 2 is used for leisure and water sports. Basin3 is currently underutilised and inaccessible to the community to walk/cycle through, meaning Basin3 isn’t connected to the other Basins and wider community. We believe Basin3 has the potential to become a highly sustainable business and enterprise campus which brings new opportunities, jobs and economic growth to the area, as well as attracting and retaining talent within Medway.

The space is extremely flexible and would support a range of industries.
Located just 36 minutes from London, the proposed new development could attract TV and Film Studios whilst supporting other jobs in the media and cultural sectors.
The space could be used for manufacturing, research & development, sci-tech innovation or urban logistics.
Smaller workshops will support independent employment and manufacturing, e.g., breweries, coffee roasters and makers

The industrial estate and the water basin are owned by Peel Waters and the lock gates are operated and maintained under a lease to Peel Ports (the harbour authority). Of the existing businesses on the industrial estate, only five require access to the port facility. In the next few years, the tenant leases will expire and the port will close.