A town's regeneration project has taken a step further forward with an official ceremony to mark the progress of building work.

The Mayor of Gravesham, Cllr Peter Scollard, has laid a ceremonial first brick at The Charter development in Gravesend.

It will see 242 apartments to rent and a public multi-storey car park, and is part of Gravesham council's overhaul plan for the town.

Show apartments are due to be opening early next year.

Laying the brick, Cllr Scollard said: "Traditionally, civic dignitaries were invited to lay the foundation stones of significant buildings.

"Modern building techniques mean that tradition is no longer really observed, but it is what we are recreating today at what is a significant development for the future of Gravesend."

Cllr Lenny Rolles, who is chairman of Gravesham council’s commercial trading company Rosherville, also attended the event, and added: "These apartments in the heart of our town will be available at rents that are affordable for the many – including those on the council’s housing register.

"The future of our town centre depends on people living, working and socialising here. The Charter and its new residents, when combined with our plans for St George’s Square on the opposite side of the High Street, will help breathe new life into the town."

A fifth of the new homes will be available through the discounted market rent scheme.

Work on the development, which has been more than a decade in the making, started last March with ground preparations being carried out.

The development is being built on the former Market Square and Horn Yard car parks, next to Gravesend Borough Market.

The project is being led by Reef Group for Rosherville Ltd – the council's commercial trading company formed in 2020.

Phil Duckworth, design director at Reef Group, said the event marked a "significant and exciting milestone for the development".

He added: "On behalf of Reef Group, it’s been fantastic working with Gravesham Borough Council to help deliver these new homes in Gravesend, which has been part of our wider, strategic town centre regeneration proposals. We continue at a great pace, and to see The Charter at this stage reflects the hard work of all involved."

Council leader Cllr John Burden explained the importance of the project to the borough.

He said: "We must not underestimate the importance of The Charter for the future of our borough as a whole.

"Town centres have changed forever. Online shopping and the demise of major national retailers have sparked a change in what the High Street is and needs to be across the country.

"I have seen some comments from a few local people who are resistant to the changes needed for the town centre to recover. However, I feel we owe a duty to the majority of our residents and traders to bring new investment into our town.

"To survive and thrive a town centre needs to adapt and change to match the needs of the time. This development is part of that change, bringing much needed local affordable housing, while the larger development – as referred to by Cllr Rolles – will bring a new theatre, retail and community space to breathe life into this part of town.

"We are not alone here in Gravesham in recognising this change in retail use and what needs to happen to create the Gravesend of the future.

"The Charter is the first, important stage in that process."