A community renewed – Christian Fields is back on the map 

The completion of the first phase of the £75 million regeneration of Christian Fields has helped produce a new sense of hope and community at the Gravesend estate.

The entire estate is being redeveloped by Moat and Countryside Properties plc, with support from English Partnerships. The new estate will comprise 427 mixed tenure homes, virtually doubling the density but with new homes the existing residents have had a strong hand in designing.

Residents celebrated the end of the first new build phase of 75 homes, with a terrific traditional street party on a rare sunny summer’s day. As well as the party food, residents enjoyed a range of entertainment, from live music to arts and crafts.

Young Christian Fields residents have also captured the spirit of renewal. A group of 10-15 year olds have produced an award winning documentary, ‘Bricks and Roses’, charting people’s feelings as the landscape changed around them and old homes made way for new. At the street party, they received certificates, medals and a trophy from Cllr. Tony Pritchard for winning the Gravesham and Dartford ‘Try Angle’ Award and are through to the countywide final of the awards.

Mary Cox, a long time Christian Fields resident, says: “The documentary was great because it involved every generation and brought people together. Everyone here is very proud of what the young people achieved.”

Moat’s sustainability manager, Caroline Field, says: “Residents have been so crucial to making this regeneration a success, from working on home designs to tackling anti-social behaviour, it’s great to see people getting recognition for involving themselves in community projects. This place has an entirely different feel to when Moat first became involved five years ago.”