Bradbourne offers the opportunity to create a new community.
The aspiration is for a new neighbourhood at Bradbourne which reflects a blend of high-quality urban living in harmony with its natural and historic surroundings. Using the existing natural features of the site and setting as the framework for the emerging masterplan, the new neighbourhood would feature the following placemaking elements:
A beautiful place known for its tree-lined streets – Working in harmony with the existing landscape, the community will be defined by high quality development, tree-lined streets, publicly accessible parks, natural areas and wetland habitats.
A place known for its good education and community infrastructure – Land for a two-form entry primary school, pre-school, community building and local centre providing residents with local community services. Sports facilities and open green spaces for all. All connected to the existing settlement at Ditton via roads, cycle paths and footpaths, and Hermitage Lane.
A place known for its ease of movement – A variety of movement options with walkable distances to Ditton and to the stations at Barming and East Malling. The scheme will provide a system of green linear routes and an internal street network which seamlessly links to wider street connections. High quality cycle provision will be included in the masterplan.
A place known for its wide range of housing – A housing mix which meets local needs, from apartments to large family homes and affordable homes. Designed in a high-quality manner around streets, parks and squares rather than distributor roads and cul-de-sacs, thereby adopting best practice.
A place known for its sustainable choices – The existing parkland landscape character is retained throughout the new neighbourhood. Green infrastructure, such as parks, allotments and woodland enhance the natural environment.
A place known for its recreation opportunities – A wide range of open spaces from natural to formal, including playing fields, allotments and parks, all with associated facilities.
The Village character area would form the main gateway to the new community from Barming Station and Hermitage Lane. It will be well defined, of a recognisable character with a mix of uses and including higher density apartment living.
The Sustainable Movement Corridor – the main transport link through the scheme with dedicated pedestrian and cycle surfaces as well as a bus and vehicular route – will widen next to the Local Centre acting as the focal point. The area will include spaces for cafes and shops to spill out onto. The space will be wide enough to position activity to catch sun in the morning and evening and throughout the day in the summer.
The active parade of commercial units will define the public realm for informal use by residents and visitors, as well as providing an opportunity to host community events. The focus of the space will accommodate a café or community buildings, which will provide a place for the local residents to meet.
This area will also be the location of one of the two eastern access routes from Hermitage Lane.
Public car parking for users of the local centre will be accommodated behind the building and pedestrians will be led through to the main space via two footways between the buildings.
Creating a strong sense of place with identifiable areas, features and uses ensures the development meets the needs of residents and visitors. Bradbourne’s masterplan includes a number of character areas, each offering a mix of homes matched to need, including:
The proposed Community Park in the residential masterplan will be a signature new park, framed by higher density housing and the retained tree windbreaks of the former horticultural research land. The park will be the centrepiece of the area, providing a range of recreational opportunities and acting as a focal point for the community.