University For The Creative Arts, Fort Pitt, Rochester

Please note that the bid deadline is 2pm on Wednesday 15 November 2023. A copy of the bid proforma is available upon request (from imogen. or chloe. ).







Bids must be submitted on the bid proforma document and emailed to Ian Fowler ( ) and Imogen Elliott (imogen. ).








The site extends to approximately 1.82 acres (0.74 hectares)and comprises a large detached building, arranged over nine storeys in parts. It is currently arranged to provide various lecture halls, workshops, studios and offices. Externally, it has various terraces on the flat roofs and two car parks. These provide approximately 30 car parking spaces. We understand that the total existing building has a gross internal area of approximately 137,200 sq. ft. (12,745 sq. m).


A pre-application document was prepared by Savills Planning on behalf of The University for the Creative Arts and submitted to Medway Council on 2 June 2023. A pre-application response dated 28 July 2023 has been received which confirms the principle of a residential use on the site as a potential alternative use.

Child Graddon Lewis were appointed by UCA to prepare a residential concept scheme. The Local Authority indicated a preference for are development comprising only apartments but there is potential to explore further opportunity for a terrace of town houses on the lower elevations.

The preferred scheme comprises dividing the building into128 flats (15 x studio, 72 x one bedroom flats, 25 x two bedroom flats and 16 x three bedroom flats).

The proposals involves splitting the existing building into two blocks, upper and lower, with both blocks having their own entrances, amenity spaces, bin and bike stores. The proposal allows for all apartments to have private amenity spaces through either balconies or roof deck terraces.

The current proposal includes extending the height of two blocks to take advantage of the extensive views from the top of the building. However, during the engagement with planning officers, they were reluctant to see the height increased on the upper elevations citing heritage concerns. There may yet be scope to explore this further with technical input.



The Property is located within Rochester between the core retail areas of Rochester town centre, to the northwest, and Chatham town centre to the east. The site is located on Fort Pitt Hill Road which is accessed via New Road (A2).

The main surrounding towns include Maidstone (approximately 8.5 miles to the south),Dartford (approximately 15.4 miles to the west) and Central London is located approximately 33 miles to the north west.

Chatham train station is located approximately 0.3 miles to the east and Rochester Railway Station is located 0.7 miles north west of the site. Both provide Southeastern services to London Victoria in approximately 45 minutes, London St Pancras in approximately 36 minutes and Stratford International in approximately 32 minutes (via the high speed train).There are also further Southeastern services to Gillingham, Dover Priory and Ramsgate.