Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s planning committee has granted planning approval for Alkerden Gateway, a unique custom build community at Ebbsfleet Garden City.

Developed by Westerhill Homes and designed by award-winning architect, BPTW, this project seeks to create a characterful, bespoke neighbourhood and a vibrant place to live, that allows residents to help design as well as choose their dream home.

The development consists of 67 homes, including 17 (25%) affordable homes. Addressing the lack of supply of custom build homes within the market, this development provides an opportunity for originality and an innovative approach to the treatment of individual plots.

From floor plans and materials to kitchen and parking spaces, Alkerden Gateway presents an exciting opportunity for future residents to be involved in the design and build process. Sustainability and biodiversity have also been considered with solar PV panels, tree planting and the installation of bird or bat boxes also among the customisation options.

Alkerden Gateway is the first key development parcel at the transition from Castle Hill to Alkerden village. It is bordered by a strategic area of green parkland to the east (Central Green Zone), a large-scale Education Campus to the west and other residential developments to the north and south.

The decision follows the submission of a Reserved Matters planning application in March 2021, and a pre-application consultation process in which residents, businesses and stakeholders shared their views and informed the final proposals.

Julian Moat, Planning Director at Westerhill Homes said: “As a Kent-based housebuilder, we are delighted to have secured planning permission from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation for the delivery of our exciting, bespoke custom build homes at Ebbsfleet Garden City.

“By working with an outstanding project team – including BPTW Architecture, LUC landscape design and Knapp Hicks engineers – we have developed an innovative six stage customisation process for all private market homes. This will allow individual purchasers to make a series of external and internal choices to their homes at the point of reservation, meaning the homes can be tailored to suit their design preferences and lifestyle choices.

“We anticipate a strong market demand for customisation in the new build market, and coupled with the strong pull of Garden City living, we fully expect these new homes to prove popular as we now commence on the marketing and delivery aspects of the site.”