The Great Lines Heritage Park

About

The Great Lines Heritage Park is a large former military area. The area consists of half a dozen military elements, such as bastions, defensive lines, fields of fire, and Fort Amherst. Construction began during the Napoleonic Wars intending to defend the Dockyard and the entry to the River Medway. Though it never had to serve its purpose, it was maintained and modernised over time. Most noticeably during WW2, which saw additions of the anti-tank and anti-aircraft emplacements, as well as pillboxes and air-raid shelters. The military nature of the Napoleonic era site provides large open green spaces and is now a National Heritage Park. Previously the area had become neglected and unsafe for pedestrians due to lack of maintenance and criminal activity. However, with funding and an inclusive spatial planning scheme, the area can now be used for recreation, leisure, natural beauty, sustainable transport, and heritage conservation. It has become a central green hub for the surrounding urban centres in Medway. [1;3;4;6]

Great Lines Heritage Park is unique with regards to the size of green space, heritage and centrality amongst urban development. The intervention connects the heritage towns of Chatham and Gillingham and the Chatham Waterfront. The park links the heritage towns of Gillingham and Chatham, and the Chatham Waterfront, thereby connecting several heritage sites and improving access for visitors and tourists to local heritage. It furthermore is a green leisure space. Several heritage buildings are open for public access and new avenues for public interaction are being sought. The sports facilities accommodate international professional teams and athletes for competitions. Moreover, the park offers educational opportunities and opportunities for new initiatives around biodiversity, cultural diversity, wildlife, waste management, and health and wellbeing. [1;5;6]

Governance

Regeneration of The Great Lines Heritage Park was led by Medway Council, which unified the relevant governing bodies of the various areas of the park. A challenge was to include the different (public and private) landowners in different areas of the park. [7] To develop the landscape and preserve the heritage, a project was designed which was partly funded by the Parklands Thames Gateway and utilised the expertise of HTA Landscape architecture consultants. Over 50 stakeholders were involved and the resulting design was based on consultation and collaboration with residents and landowners. [3;5;7]

Several initiatives ensured the participation of local community members in the regeneration of the park. The Friends of Admiral Gardens (FOAG) became active in 2006. The goal of this community group was to safeguard the heritage and green space of the area and ensure access for the community. An Audience Development Plan was made in 2008, to investigate the needs and priorities of local community members towards the new park. In 2010, The Friends of Great Lines Heritage Park (FOGLHP) was established. This independent community group, aimed at preserving and promoting the park to the local community and visitors, in 2010 and acted as a formal consultee of the council on all decisions concerning the Park. [7]

Business Model

The park has been regenerated with public funding. The majority of funding (approximately £2.000.000, equivalent to around €2.400.00) came from the Regional Government’s Parklands Thames Gateway Fund (2008-2011). An EU Grant of £74,000 (approximately €89.000) was also received. [7]