A long-deserted town centre site could become a "boxpark" for businesses, say councillors.

Strood Waterfront was once tipped to host around 1,600 homes, with councillors saying preparation works could begin "almost immediately" when plans were given the seal of approval four years ago. Since then, however, little has happened.

There had been two sites earmarked for development, both of which were brownfield, one along Canal Road and the other behind Strood Retail Park, where Medway Council's Civic Centre used to be.

A masterplan was presented by the council and an eight-week public consultation was held in 2018.

Many of the respondents described Strood as the “poor relation to Rochester”.

In the same year, cabinet members said work could "start almost immediately" and at the time the council adopted a development brief for the site.

The brief stated: "The Waterfront has the potential to become a stunning new face for Strood, transforming perceptions of the area and contributing to wider regeneration initiatives for the town centre and across the Medway conurbation."

What's more, when the council disposed of the Civic Centre site, it said more than 40 developers had expressed an interest in developing it.

The site had been due to host a mix of around 550 townhouses and apartment blocks which would have been up to 11 storeys and boasting views of the castle and cathedral.

There were also plans for restaurants, a play area and shops which would extend the existing High Street.

The land along Canal Road would also include a number of apartments and open space, and the existing homes at Kingswear Gardens would be replaced.

A riverside walk was also proposed with a footbridge over Jane's Creek, which neighbours Morrisons.

In 2019, work began to ready the land at the Civic Centre by implementing flood defence measures to the tune of £3.5 million.

Residents reported issues including breathing difficulties caused by the dust kicked up by the works, as well as noise and vibrations.

However, since those works came to a close, little else has happened with either site.

The council's most recent capital strategy document states: "There has been significant investment in Strood over recent years, and while market conditions are not conducive to taking forward the Strood Civic Centre site at this time, it features very strongly in Medway Development Company’s long-term pipeline of regeneration projects."

Medway Development Company is the council's development-arm. The firm is currently completing two developments in Chatham town centre - Garrison Point and Chatham Waterfront.

Cllr Stephen Hubbard (Lab), who represents Strood North, says he wants to see the land put to good use until a developer takes advantage of it.

Cllr Hubbard, along with fellow councillor Simon Curry, developed a rough plan to put a boxpark on the Civic Centre site temporarily, with the hope of supporting small businesses. The proposals also include open greenspace.

He said a trip to Bristol had partly inspired their idea.

"In Bristol, around the harbour area, they have got these boxparks," he explained. "This is the first time I had seen them used in a positive sense.

"There were small businesses, cafés, and it was bringing viability to an area which is very similar to Strood riverside.

"There are container boxes on Strood riverside at the moment if you go into Canal Road on the right hand side but it's businesses, it's fenced off and it looks unattractive.

"What was attractive about the boxpark I saw was, one was a café, one was a restaurant, one was a clothes shop, it was really quite impressive.

"Here, you've got the river, you've got the station, and a large population that would potentially use it.

"It's been sitting there since 2019. Due to the financial package the council says they require, development of that site is still sometime in the future."

Medway Council was contacted for further information about the future of the site but said no update could be provided at this time.