Dartford Borough has seen major changes in recent years with a modernised economy and new vibrancy achieved through the re-use of brownfield land. Dartford now hosts prestige employment sites and economic centres, and prominent developments such as Bluewater, Crossways Business Park, The Bridge and Ingress Park. These have had a positive regenerative effect in the Borough and raised the benchmark for quality in the area.
The priority areas for development going forward remain in the urban area, being Central Dartford and at Ebbsfleet Garden City. Dartford remains the plan making authority for that part of Ebbsfleet in the Borough.
Dartford Borough Council is actively supporting the high quality transformation of central Dartford by leading on the refurbishment of the town centre’s key strategic and public spaces, by improving the pedestrian environment and by encouraging high quality redevelopment.
Good design is seen to be a key aspect of sustainable development in Dartford in order to deliver places for people to live, work and relax. Strategic objectives seek to ensure the well-being of communities, both existing and new, through the design of cohesive, safe, walkable and attractive neighbourhoods with a real sense of place and vitality.