The latest phase of a major new development has been unveiled.

The public plaza at Rochester Riverside hosts a newly-opened Travelodge and a Co-op, which is due to open next month.

Medway councillors and staff from Countryside and Hyde, which is behind the 1,440-home development, gathered for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 81-bed Travelodge, which backs onto the railway station, opened last month.

A Costa Coffee is due to open in the New Year.

The first people to live at the £419 million development moved in back in June.

Once finished, Rochester Riverside, which was formally a brownfield site, will include a new primary school, retail space, 10 acres of green space and 2.5km of public walkway along the river. So far, 61% of workers on the site have been local labour.

Currently, a quarter of the homes will be social housing and homes will be available via the Help to Buy scheme and shared ownership.

Hyde's chief investment officer Guy Slocombe said: “The scheme is right on top of Rochester station so it’s appealing to lots of people, not just from Rochester, but Rochester and beyond.

“It’s right on the river; we hope in due course to be able to provide and support some additional amenities that makes use of the river and brings that back to life.

“I’m sure the scheme provides a really positive contribution to Rochester and the wider environment more broadly.”

Council leader Cllr Alan Jarrett (Con) said: “Rochester Riverside is not only a valuable addition to Medway’s housing numbers, providing residents with a greater choice of accommodation in an excellent location, but it is also a fine example of a local authority working closely with housing developers to produce a high-quality development."

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