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Recording studios Riverside One to be demolished as part of Chatham Waterfront redevelopment

The site of the former Riverside One Studios in Chatham is to be demolished, as part of a wider riverside development, at the end of this month.
The demolition is part of the Command of the Heights project which is a joint effort between Medway Council and Fort Amherst Heritage Trust and is funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund.
The recording studio is opposite Chatham bus station off of Dock Road, on which Fort Amherst is also located.

Riverside One's location on Dock Road. Picture from Google Streetview
Riverside One's location on Dock Road. Picture from Google Streetview


It sits within an area known as Battery Ditch which was a critical part of military defences in the area.
The ditch was built during the Seven Years War (1756-1763) and ran from where Riverside One is currently located up to Fort Amherst.
Riverside One was overseen by local arts group Nucleus Arts which was licensed by the council to oversee it. It was opened as a trial project in partnership with local singer Jamie Johnson, who was on The Voice UK, and was due to be demolished last year.

Singer Jamie Johnson outside the former Riverside One Studio in 2016
Singer Jamie Johnson outside the former Riverside One Studio in 2016


"It will be a shame but it has been empty for over a year now," said Mr Johnson.
"We always knew it was going to happen."
Nucleus have no plans to open another recording studio in the area, but has recently acquired The Conservancy Building in Rochester High Street to add to it's portfolio of spaces for the arts.

Redevelopment work began in October 2018.
The redevelopment of the riverside location will also see the transformation of an area known as Spur Battery, which is the highest point in Chatham, and was once used for troop encampments, siege warfare training and military punishment.

Barrier Ditch as it will look. Picture from Medway Council.
Barrier Ditch as it will look. Picture from Medway Council.


It will be transformed into an amphitheatre with seating for more than 200 visitors for outdoor performances.

Meanwhile, the area on which Riverside One currently sits will be opened up as greenspace and will be landscaped to highlight the history of the site and its links to Fort Amherst and the Historic Dockyard Chatham.

The Heritage Lottery Fund gave £1.78m towards the redevelopment, whilst Medway Council is contributing £400,000.

The work is expected to be completed by the summer.

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