Northfleet Riverside

 Character Area applies to...

  • Northfleet Embankment West

  • Northfleet Embankment East

Riverside.JPG

Garden of England

The in land areas of Northfleet share a heritage as part of the Kent Garden of England prior to their industrial development. This heritage can be incorporated through the inclusion of growing spaces within local parks such as the growing of hops on trellis.

Hoad farm Kent hops in field.jpg

Industrial Heritage

The Northfleet Riverside includes visible industrial artefacts ranging from functioning industrial buildings to a variety of site furnishings. Functioning industry is also visibly present in the open views of the River Thames. This visible industry is characterised by a strong colour palette of primary colours that has formed the basis for this character area’s material palette.

Chalk

The Northfleet Riverside is framed by a backdrop of chalk cliffs. The bright white colour and texture of the chalk cliffs form inspiration for the character areas hard material and planting strategies that are further outlined in chapters 5 and 6.

Water

The Northfleet Riverside is strongly characterised by its relationship to the River Thames and the amenity value offered by its open views. The areas existing relationship to the River Thames is a concrete embankment with an orthogonal geometry derived from its functional roots in the local industry. This relationship has also informed the planting strategy.

Design Guidance:

  • The enhancement of open views and the public realm along the River Thames to strengthen the local sense of place (see chapter 3)

  • The integration of sustainable urban drainage systems to help mitigate the effect of new development on the River Thames (see chapter 3).

  • The use of quarried chalks, chalky white concrete or local by-products such as flint within the material palette of the public realm (see chapter 5)

  • The use of locally inspired design language for the specified street furniture, shelters, or structures (see chapter 5).

  • The use of bright, primary colours within the site furnishing palette of the public realm. (see chapter 5)

  • The integration of multi-functional productive landscapes into neighbourhood parks and city parks in line with Kent’s role as the Garden of England (see chapter 6).

  • Adapting the traditional hop gardens or hops trellis to fit within the public realm (see chapter 6)

  • The planting of orchards or the visual reference to orchards through the planting of ornamental flowering trees in hard paved areas & streets (see chapter 6)

  • The use of the agricultural pattern of predominantly rectangular shape and associated rhythm.