Cable Wharf, Northfleet
A new two-form-entry primary school and community asset, forming part of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s vision for a thriving 21st-century Garden City in North Kent.
DHA worked as part of a team with Kent County Council, Morgan Sindall, Lee Evans Partnership and Lloyd Bore to secure Reserved Matters permission for the new Primary School after outline planning permission was secured on 20th March 2019 for a mixed-use development of 598 dwellings and non-residential floorspace for retail, community use, primary school and associated infrastructure and earthworks.
The new school, designed to be an integral part of the new Cable Wharf community, will enable Rosherville Church of England Academy in Northfleet to relocate. When open in September 2025, the two-form entry school being delivered directly by Kent County Council will provide 240 places including the roll from Rosherville.
The £10m project takes its inspiration from the materials of the area and Northfleet’s industrial heritage. The two-storey building will benefit from soft and hard landscaping features, including a two-court Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), a 3G artificial grass football pitch, playing fields and a playground. There will also be new landscaping, including sensory planting, new trees and a green roof to enhance biodiversity across the site. The school will also include provision for 15 special educational needs pupils, a 26-place nursery and a science laboratory.
Recognising the Department for Education requirement for new schools to achieve Net Zero Carbon in Operation, the new building will include solar photovoltaic panels on a green roof, a fabric first approach with high levels of air tightness – increasing insulating properties and reducing heat loss – energy efficient lighting, an air source heat pump heating system, hybrid ventilation including heat recovery and electric water heating.
The school has been designed to operate outside of school hours to enable the MUGA, football pitch, school hall/studio and the science laboratory to be used by the wider community.
Sustaining success
DHA Transport also acted for Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s successful application for a 3,500sqm mixed-use development including flexible industrial units, office space and a cafe for nearby residents at Rosherville Way. The team working alongside DHA on the project included Willmott Dixon and Lee Evans Partnership LLP.
Project Team
Laura joined DHA in 2004 as part of our original Graduate intake. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Geography and Sports Science from Loughborough University, and an MA in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Westminster. She is also a member of the RTPI.
Laura Jackson MA
Associate Director
Over the years Laura has been involved in a vast range of projects, including various applications and appeals, with her area of expertise now within the education sector and public houses.
She leads the entire portfolio of the planning permission and highway license business for DHA, involving hundreds of Public House sites throughout the UK.
Some of Laura's recent projects include:
- Greene King Portfolio
- Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School
- Hornchurch Leisure Centre
- New Live Fire Training Facility at Ashford Fire Station
- Dover Grammar School for Boys
- Major development at Mornings Mill Farm – Public Inquiry
- Cable Wharf Primary School
For the past 30 years, Laura has played hockey for Maidstone Hockey Club. However, she recently hung up her astros and has taken up running instead. She completed the London Marathon in April 2023 and the London Big Half in September 2023 and has plans to complete more races in the future.