Ashmere, Ebbsfleet
Large-scale land forming and infrastructure works at Ashmere, transforming a former quarry into housing with drainage, access, and ecology solutions.
Project overview
Land Forming Earthworks – 6.7 million cubic metres of material are being moved in a new land-forming operation to remove the existing quarry lake and large stockpile mound, creating a suitable development platform for a new housing development. Works commenced in 2018 and are due to be completed by the end of 2027. Due to the necessary double handling and sorting of materials, significantly more material has been moved than the originally envisaged 6.7 million cubic metres.
Ecology – To enable large-scale earthworks to commence, ecological clearance was undertaken across extensive areas in a timely and carefully planned manner. Species translocated included common lizards, slow worms, grass snakes, badgers and dormice. Licences from Natural England have been obtained as required for the translocation works.
Main access into Western Cross Development (Ashmere’s onsite name) – A new arm was added to the existing Bluewater Roundabout on St Clements Way. The works involved the diversion of five Thames Water strategic mains, two high-voltage cables and an intermediate-pressure gas main. The cost of all diversions was approximately £3.5 million. On either side of the new access, natural rock striations were formed and illuminated to create a strong visual impact at the main entrance.
Foul Water Drainage – A terminal foul-water pumping station was designed to serve approximately 4,500 properties, discharging into an existing Southern Water manhole at the end of Craylands Lane, next to London Road. A series of interim foul-water pumping stations are also required, draining into the terminal foul-water pumping station.
Surface Water Drainage – Two large balancing lakes manage surface-water run-off across the three villages of Castle Hill, Alkerden and Ashmere. Water is then pumped into swales, which drain by gravity into the terminal surface-water pumping station in the north of Ashmere, known as Lake Koba. Lake Koba then discharges directly into the Thames via three rising mains at an agreed discharge rate of 323 l/s.
Fastrack – A dedicated bus route runs through the centre of the development and will ultimately connect directly to Bluewater Shopping Centre via a new tunnel beneath St Clements Way. The Fastrack bus has started running to Bluewater using the Ashmere site roads and main access onto Bluewater Roundabout. Tunnel construction is due to begin in January 2026, with a programme of approximately 15 months and completion expected in spring 2027.
