More than 300 further properties – including a nursing home for people with dementia – are being earmarked for the multi-million pound Chatham Waters development.

The scheme, which neighbours Asda's Gillingham Pier store, will eventually boast 1,000 properties across a 26-acre site owned by developers Peel Land and Property.

Contracts have been exchanged to build two new blocks split into one and two bedroom apartments and three bedroom town houses.

Specialist healthcare company Montpelier Estates will be overseeing a £12.5 million development of homes for elderly people.

This will have 72 en-suite rooms and five assisted living flats.

The ground floor will also feature a bistro café, small cinema, spa and beauty salon, keep fit and activity spaces for residents and the local community to use.

Two planning applications are due to be submitted for the developments in the summer.

These will go in alongside a separate planning submission for more green space next to the schemes, which will include trees, planting, seating and play areas.

The development is already home to the Waterfront University Technical College, Marston’s family restaurant and the Asda.

Almost 400 of the 950 homes approved for Chatham Waters are now finished.

This include 199 homes for private sale at X1’s The Manica Building, which opened in December, last year.

A further 193 homes for private rent at Long Harbour are due to complete next month.

More than £100m has already been invested at Chatham Waters and around 700 full-time jobs created.

This is said to be worth £19 million to the local economy each year.

Peel L&P's executive director of development James Whittaker said: “We’re working with Medway Council to deliver the Chatham Waters masterplan which uses brownfield land to create a world-class waterfront destination with sustainable communities, quality homes to suit a range of needs and green spaces for people to enjoy.

“This is another major step in the delivery of our approved mixed-use vision for Chatham Waters that will provide much-needed affordable homes and multi-generational living and we’ve almost completed around half of the homes in this masterplan."

Montpelier Estates director Anna Ciesielska also welcomed the move.

She said: "Around 80 new full-time equivalent jobs will be created, and the local people will be invited to join activities and events such as cooking demonstrations, wine tasting evenings, film screenings and the chance to take advantage of all of the facilities on offer.”

Subject to planning approval, work is expected to start on the residential and public realm projects around next spring with an estimated two-year completion.

Chatham Waters is among a number of regeneration projects Peel is carrying out on brownfield sites at docklands, canals and river banks across the country, backed by private investment.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway