Skip to content

Vision

Our vision for South Canterbury is still evolving. We want it to be community-focused and beautiful, but that end could be reached in a number of different ways. Our values are consistent across every place we develop, but they are interpreted according to local need. In South Canterbury that means balancing the potential for a brilliant new place against a deep connection to the city's unique heritage. As our designs become more detailed we will continue to explore these seven crucial principles:

Connectedness

This extension to the city will be fully connected. We have designed a latticework of cycling and walking routes for people to navigate South Canterbury safely and efficiently. We will invest in three separate cycle routes to the City centre, contribute to a city-wide cycle hire scheme, and provide an additional e-bike scheme to which every new resident will have over a year’s worth of free access.

For bus-users, we will create a new fastbus link and priority lanes, and fund new services while relocating and upgrading the Park and Ride. New bus services, bike hire schemes and cycle parking will enable people to get about Canterbury easily and comfortably without a car. In addition, we will be investing significantly into the road network to add capacity and improve safety.

Connectedness will go much further than transport. Architecture will link to the city’s history. Priority will be given to the Via Francigena, celebrating Canterbury’s ancient pilgrim pathway to Rome.

Sustainability

South Canterbury will be carbon net zero. That goal will be factored into the design we develop, the infrastructure we create and the homes that follow. Speaking with members of the University community we have been struck by the appetite to make a positive difference to the environment. Following the City Council's lead and collaborating with the universities and local climate action groups we will make exciting progress in this area.

Specifically, we will work with the natural contours of the land, maintain many of the existing hedgerows and trees, encourage nature recovery and optimise views of the city.

Green Spaces

Two decades have passed since the scenic, popular Westgate Park opened in Canterbury. Despite the city’s growing population, no public park has opened since.

South Canterbury will correct that with new parkland and a spectacular space on the ridge overlooking the city below, which will be Canterbury’s largest park.

We will also provide community gardens and allotments. The residents we have already consulted have spoken about usable green space as a pressing need for all ages. We plan to deliver it.

Easy access to sport and healthy living

Canterbury is famous for its cricket ground, but sports fields, pitches and facilities for public use are in short supply. We are in contact with local walking, running and cycling groups, as well as various local sports teams in Canterbury.

Their input is helping us design a picturesque cricket ground, football pitches and running routes with distance markers. With its long, safe paths, South Canterbury will be a haven for joggers, ramblers, walkers and cyclists. We even plan to introduce a regular park run.

All this will be influenced by the very latest thinking in how to design inclusive spaces that cater for the needs of children, females and the elderly. This includes the very clear physical and mental benefits of being close to nature.

A new community centre will provide indoor sports as well as community meeting space and adult learning opportunities. This will help encourage inclusivity, reduce isolation, and create multiple opportunities for the new community to flourish.

Separately, we will build, from scratch, a state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary medical centre including GP and ancillary services to serve new and existing residents.

Outstanding educational provision

South Canterbury will become a home to many families. The city is a hub of excellent education. We have committed to building two new primary schools and investing millions of pounds in local secondary schools.

We will also be delivering nursery and early years provision. We will be talking to local people to understand precisely how best to complement Canterbury’s existing provision.

Beyond what we will be delivering on site, we are forging strong relationships with local schools, colleges and universities to explore how South Canterbury can give their students valuable experience, skills and even employment opportunities.

Business-friendly
environment

Canterbury has a thriving student population but relatively few opportunities for school-leavers and graduates to enter the local job market. As with so many old towns this has much to do with space. The city has beautiful but narrow streets which are full of shops and homes, but with little room for businesses to grow.

South Canterbury will correct that imbalance. Within the site will be a dedicated commercial area to meet the challenge. It will contain a whole range of places where start-ups can flourish and more established businesses can make use of affordable, modern office space.

We are having conversations with businesses from a range of sectors including healthcare, higher education, and wine making who may want to re-locate to Canterbury. This is a generational opportunity to bring opportunities to the city and build on existing local strengths.

We will also be providing local shops and public buildings throughout.

Range of wonderful homes

Between the parks, fields and open spaces, houses will be built with a focus on beauty, nature recovery and utility. They will provide for households of all sizes and all budgets, providing wonderful and affordable homes. We believe in ‘mixed’ living. This means residents can walk down streets where houses sit between shops, pubs, cafes and local businesses.