Work has began to build a new waterfront development after a groundbreaking ceremony.

Medway Council's house-building company is due to build 175 apartments on the riverside in Chatham.

WATCH: KMTV speaks to Cllr Alan Jarrett and Cllr Howard Doe at the groundbreaking for Chatham Waterfront

Medway Development Company has shared its vision for the site between the River Medway and Chatham bus station, which is due to include commercial space at the ground floor of the five blocks along Globe Lane.

The plans were approved by the council's planning committee in March 2019.

Globe Lane car park has been closed in preparation for the works which began officially this week.

The blocks of one and two-bedroom apartments which are expected to be completed by 2022, will include 89 parking spaces.

Nearby in The Brook, Whiffens Avenue car park has been closed since November after plans were approved by the council for 151 apartments to be built there.

There are also plans to develop 229 apartments on another car park in Queen Street, the other side of The Brook.

The combination of the plans has sparked concerns over a lack of town centre parking.

Council leader Alan Jarrett (Con) said: "We are anticipating a lot of people who will actually buy these premises won't actually own cars and we are seeing that elsewhere with other cities as they develop but there is also a surplus of parking spaces in Chatham anyway and we are working on that to make sure there is adequate parking for residents and of course visitors and shoppers."

“Chatham Waterfront is in the heart of Medway and supports our ambition of Chatham becoming Medway’s leading waterfront university city centre by 2035.

"This development, which is being delivered by our own housing company, also supports our work to bring people back into our town centres.

"Chatham has seen vast improvements over the years, helping the historic town to thrive, and we are committed to providing people with more things to do across Medway to build a sustainable future.”

Cllr Howard Doe (Con), deputy leader of the council and chairman of the Medway Development Company, added: "We have got some top-quality marketing agents on it and I fully expect they [the apartments] will command full market price.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for those wanting to come out of London and local people and there's also good access to the fast train service to London so really, what's not to like?"

Chatham Waterfront is just one of a few developments in the town, which also include works to regenerate a riverside area between the Historic Dockyard and Fort Amherst called The Command of the Heights Project, and the £1 billion development known as Chatham Waters.

Medway Council have been awarded £4 million from the government's Local Growth Fund and is looking to secure further funds from the Future High Street Fund and Heritage Lottery Funding.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway