Homes England deal with Keepmoat Homes sees work begin on 598 new homes at Northfleet Embankment
- Keepmoat Homes will build 598 homes over six years, after striking a deal with Homes England for the land.
- The development will also include a primary school, open space and other amenities.
- The site forms part of Ebbsfleet Garden City.
Almost 600 new homes are on the way as work begins on site at Northfleet Embankment, following a deal between government housing accelerator Homes England and developer Keepmoat Homes.
Keepmoat Homes will purchase the 11.6 hectare site from Homes England for the residential development, which alongside 598 homes will include a new primary school, local amenities, open space and a Fastrack bus connection. 224 of the homes will be affordable.
Homes England has undertaken extensive remediation work to prepare the land for development and after working with key stakeholders Gravesham Borough Council and Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, planning permission was granted last year.
This important milestone sees work on the new homes now beginning on site, with the first homes expected to be complete by May 2020. The rest of the development is expected to be complete by 2025. As part of the deal, Keepmoat Homes has agreed to build the homes at an accelerated rate of over 100 units per year.
Stephen Kinsella, Executive Director for Land at Homes England, said:
“Getting homes built on public land is at the heart of our mission so we’re delighted to see Northfleet Embankment now start on site.
“This was a complex site and the joint efforts of partners will now be rewarded with a high-quality development to meet the housing needs of local people.”
Tim Beale, Chief Executive of Keepmoat Homes said:
“As Homes England’s largest delivery partner, we’ve worked together to deliver over 11,000 quality new homes across the country as part of consecutive Delivery Partner Panels since 2009.
“We are delighted to have completed this new deal with Homes England and are looking forward to starting on site at this transformational development in Northfleet, where we will create a thriving new community on the banks of the River Thames that is only 20 minutes from central London via Ebbsfleet International station.”
Housing Minister Kit Malthouse MP said:
“Not only does this deal deliver hundreds of much-needed homes, but it’s another step towards building a vibrant garden community on London’s doorstep.
“With a new school, transport links and green open spaces, it will be a place to live, learn, work and play for generations to come.
“This new deal is all part of our ambition to deliver 15,000 new homes in Ebbsfleet as we build more, better, faster.”
Cllr Jenny Wallace Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Gravesham Borough Council said:
“We are pleased that work is to begin on this key site. Gravesham urgently needs more homes, especially affordable homes. It is really important to us to be able to assist people that have grown up in Gravesham to be able continue to live here as a part of our community, as well as improve and regenerate the area.”
Ian Piper, Chief Executive of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, said:
“This new development by Keepmoat will transform this important waterfront area and make a great contribution to Ebbsfleet Garden City, by bringing new homes and community facilities to Northfleet.”
ENDS
For more information contact Sarah Tucker, PR and Media Officer at Homes England on 020 7393 2261 or sarah.tucker@homesengland.gov.uk
Family Justice Panel update
On 21 May 2019 the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced a public call for evidence steered by a panel of key representatives from across family justice, to gather evidence on how the family courts protect children and parents in cases of domestic abuse and other serious offences.
The inaugural panel meeting took place on Friday 14 June 2019, marking the start for the three-month call for evidence. The panel members represent key organisations from across family justice including the Judiciary, academia, social care, policy officials and third sector organisations which represent and advocate for victims of domestic abuse, (full details below).
The call for evidence will specifically focus on the application of Practice Direction 12J, Practice Direction 3AA, The Family Procedure Rules Part 3A, and s.91(14) orders, and will build a more detailed understanding of any harm caused during or following proceedings in the family court.
The panel members are:
- Melissa Case & Nicola Hewer, Director of Family and Criminal Justice Policy, MOJ (Chair)
- Professor Liz Trinder, University of Exeter
- Professor Rosemary Hunter FAcSS, University of Kent
- Professor Mandy Burton, University of Leicester
- Mr Justice Stephen Cobb, Judiciary
- District Judge Katherine Suh, Judiciary
- Nicki Norman, Acting Co-Chief Executive, Women’s Aid
- Dierdre Fottrell QC & Lorraine Cavanagh QC (joint representatives), Association of Lawyers for Children
- Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for England (Children & Families)
The panel will also be supported by analysts, researchers and relevant policy officials from MOJ.
Related link
Holidaymakers urged to put MMR checks top of any travel plans
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes leads to serious complications. The disease is still endemic in many countries around the world including Europe, with France, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Germany among the countries reporting the highest case counts according to the European Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC).
PHE data published at the end of May showed that measles remains a threat to the UK population, with 231 cases confirmed in England in the first quarter of 2019. The number of cases confirmed in England has been rising since 2018, with many linked to importations from Europe. Young people and adults aged 15 and over who missed out on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine when they were young and some under-vaccinated communities have been particularly affected.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at Public Health England, said:
Measles can kill and is incredibly easy to catch, especially if you’re not vaccinated and travelling to affected countries. If you’re in any doubt about your – or your child’s – vaccination status, ask your GP or check your child’s Red Book. Before you travel you should ensure you and your family are up to date with all currently recommended UK vaccines and MMR is especially important if you’re planning to travel throughout the summer due to the ongoing outbreaks happening across Europe. It’s never too late to get protected.
Nikki White, ABTA’s Director of Destinations and Sustainability said:
Travellers might not typically think to check vaccination requirements for travel to Europe, but we encourage everyone to check their health records and catch-up on any missed vaccinations wherever they are travelling to. No matter where people are going on holiday, we always encourage them to check the Foreign Office’s travel advice at the time of booking and before they are due to travel to make sure they are aware of the latest information about the destination and any health requirements.
In the UK, MMR is usually given to infants at around 12 months of age, with a second dose given before school, to ensure best protection. In some cases, MMR can be offered to babies from 6 months of age (for example, for travel to countries where measles is common, or during an outbreak situation). Ask your health professional for advice on the best option for your children before you travel.
Two doses of MMR in a lifetime are needed for a person to be considered fully protected.
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The latest UK quarterly data and commentary on coverage achieved by the UK childhood immunisation programme is available online.
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Travel health information can be found on the TravelHealthPro website.
Measles signs and symptoms
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes lead to serious complications. It’s now uncommon in the UK because of the effective MMR vaccination programme. Although usually a mild illness in children, measles can be more severe in adults.
The initial symptoms of measles develop around 10 days after a person is infected. These can include:
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cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough
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sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
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a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40°C (104°F)
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a few days later, a red-brown blotchy rash will appear. This usually starts on the head or upper neck, before spreading outwards to the rest of the body
Symptoms usually resolve in about 7 to 10 days.
UK Statement on the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
The UK aligns itself with the EU Statement and would like to make some additional comments in a national capacity.
Around the world, rape and other forms of sexual violence are used as weapons of war in conflict situations. The sheer scale of this is truly appalling and these horrific crimes often go unpunished. We need to act and put survivors at the heart of what we do.
Seven years ago, the UK’s then Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie, launched the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. Since then the UK has taken significant action to tackle sexual violence in conflict, including by providing £46 million for PSVI projects in 14 countries.
Five years ago, we hosted a Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. Five years on, tackling this issue remains a priority for the UK Government. To mark the occasion, we will be hosting an international conference of world leaders in London from 18th to 20th November. This conference ‘Time for Justice : Putting Survivors First’ is a global call to action to strengthen justice for survivors and hold perpetrators to account, to address the stigma endured by survivors, and to strengthen efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict.
The UK is committed to ending sexual violence in conflict and securing justice for survivors, and collectively we can work to attain this goal. There is much we can do to tackle sexual violence in conflict at the OSCE, including through the Women, Peace and Security agenda.