Swanscombe Peninsula has long been seen as one of the borough’s most promising redevelopment sites. Surrounded by water on two sides, with spectacular views along the Thames, and located a few hundred yards from Ebbsfleet, its potential is undeniable.

It was originally identified as one of Dartford’s major housing development sites. Concern about the peninsula’s susceptibility to flooding however, together with the cost of making it fit for large scale development given its previous industrial uses, has led to a shift in emphasis in recent years. There will still be housing, probably on the side closest to Ingress Park, but it is its potential as an ecological, environmental and leisure resource that is now firmly in the spotlight.

The peninsula’s status as an important wetland and saltmarsh habitat is already well recognised. Any future users of the site would need to protect and enhance these habitats that between them support a remarkable array of plant, bird and reptile life. Less well appreciated perhaps is peninsula’s potential as a renewable energy generation site. It is a viable source of wind and wave power and is also well placed to act as a location for a Combined Heat and Power scheme serving the borough’s new developments. Dartford’s emerging Local Development Framework does in fact single out Swanscombe Peninsula as possible CHP site. It also talks about the peninsula as the potential home of an ‘environmental technology park’ in line with the borough’s long held ambition to boost the knowledge based sector of Dartford’s economy.

We need to ensure that these environmental ambitions are realised. Dartford has been slow to exploit renewable energy sources and green technologies up to now. If we are to deliver sustainable development in Dartford then this needs to change. Swanscombe Peninsula offers us the perfect opportunity to kick-start Dartford’s green revolution and we need to make sure we seize it.