We live in £70m housing estate – it has wonky bollards and ‘pocket’ parks… but a perk we were promised was ripped away
RESIDENTS living in a £70million housing estate have revealed their love for its wonky bollards – but one perk has been ripped away.
The Bridge in Dartford, Kent, was described as “surprising and experimental” regeneration project back in 2007.
The 260-acre site was formerly occupied by an isolation hospital, but is now home to 1,500 properties, shops and 80 acres of green space.
Such was the fanfare around the development, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the site with designer Wayne Hemingway shortly before becoming London Mayor in 2008.
Presenting a YouTube video posted in Janaury 2009, Mr Hemingway described the uniqueness of the site and the innovative creations erected within the development.
It includes wonky bollards and adjacent houses built with completely different bricks.
He is a self-described critic of housebuilders, adding that he had tried to address his criticisms “in one development”.
He also boasted of how the properties had huge windows as “everyone loves” natural light.
In the video, he addressed why the bollards are wonky, saying: “Here we’ve put things that are going to protect the trees.
“Also going to protect them is these wonky bollards. Yes, they are wonky. Why? Because we like wonky.”
Victoria and Aaron Brockwell were among the first residents to move into the development in 2007.
They told KentOnline: “We were drawn by the house prices and what looked like the plan at the time.
“It has been diluted a little bit and changed, but the idea of having a safe environment that was going to have doctors and schools and shops and everything, a lot of that has come to light, which was good, but that was why we moved out – for a bit of space.”
Aaron lamented how residents’ free bus pass had been taken away, a perk they had been promised.
The couple also described how developers had failed to deliver on a number of promises, including tennis courts and a football pitch.
Traffic has also been cited as an issue due to the hundreds of lorries in the area travelling via the nearby Dartford Crossing.
But other residents described the development as a “beautiful” estate with “really nice walkways”.
Local councillor Clement Quaqumey described how there are positives and negatives to living in the estate, but slammed the decision to end the free bus pass for residents.
Developers Prologis UK said it was proud of its 20-year contribution to The Bridge, but added it is no longer a development partner.
Regional head Paul Weston said: “The Bridge is a flourishing community of 1,500 homes and around 1.5 m sq. ft. of commercial space where all residents can enjoy a safe, well-maintained neighbourhood within easy reach of their community amenities.”
Hemingway Design has been approached for comment, but a statement on its website reads: “We are very proud of the vision behind The Bridge, Dartford but can’t vouch for how it is being built out because, as with so many developments, the developer didn’t keep on the designers behind the good thinking to police the build out.
“We pop back occasionally though, and it does seem like the majority of the principles are being upheld!”