Plans for Ebbsfleet Central East, near Ebbsfleet International station, formally approved

Funding has been secured for a new primary school as the final stages of a major regeneration project have been formally agreed.

Outline planning permission was granted in July 2024 to create a city-style centre on 34.86 hectares of brownfield land surrounding Ebbsfleet International.

The £200million proposals, known as Ebbsfleet Central East, will include around 2,100 homes, with at least 35% designated for affordable housing, alongside offices, retail and leisure facilities, a school and open space.

It forms part of overarching plans being driven forward by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) - the planning arm tasked with delivering the scheme for a 21st-century garden city with up to 15,000 new homes.

Almost two years after the EDC planning committee approved the outline proposals, the scheme has now been formally granted after all Section 106 (S106) agreements were signed off.

It includes funding for a new primary school, affordable housing, and community services and improvements to transport, connectivity, and wider infrastructure.

Plans to build a primary school were not originally part of the scheme. Instead, EDC had proposed to include a secondary school.

However, following conversations with Kent County Council (KCC), it has now been agreed that S106 funding will be put towards a primary facility with financial contributions towards secondary education provision.

A spokesperson for EDC said financial contributions would allow the authority to invest in existing schools and contribute towards other projects, which would be more appropriate than a new site.

Chairman of EDC, Dr David Prout, said: “Getting started on Ebbsfleet Garden City's town centre is one of our key priorities for the next few years.

“The granting of planning permission is a major milestone and provides a great foundation for public and private sector investment in the town centre.”

Ebbsfleet Central East is split into two separate parcels – including Northfleet Rise and Station Gardens.

The proposals do not include alterations to the train station building itself; however, some of the existing facilities, including bus stops and the drop-off area, will be relocated, alongside disabled parking.

As it has only received outline permission, more detailed plans will be submitted later for approval, setting out the design, layout and infrastructure before construction can begin.

More than 5,000 homes have already been built as part of the wider garden city programme.