Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
And the walls come tumbling down
Bulldozers have started tearing down the former Army buildings on the old Howe Barracks site ahead of its redevelopment.
The work forms part of the first phase of plans to create a new 500-home estate with community facilities and a public park overlooking the city and Cathedral.
Housing giant Taylor Wimpey snapped up the land from the Ministry of Defence last year when the 66-acre plot in Littlebourne Road was put on the market complete with planning permission.
The first phase of construction involves 171 homes, of which 26% will be affordable.
A Taylor Wimpey spokesman says the first will be called Royal Parade and released for sale in the spring/summer of next year.
“Demolition works are now underway, with construction work anticipated to commence in spring 2018,” he said.
“Once completed, the development will provide 500 new homes, three community buildings and associated parkland.”
In addition to the new homes and park there will be a link road connecting Littlebourne Road with Chaucer Road, new parking, four new play areas, a 3G playing pitch and a community orchard.
Taylor Wimpey will also contribute £1.5 million towards a new secondary school in the city and £733,000 for the expansion of Pilgrims’ Way Primary School.
The barracks was home to the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment but closed in 2015.