Ebbsfleet United new home plans nixed over pollution concerns

Article posted by Coliseum, August 20^th, 2026

Image: UN Studio

Plans for 3,500 homes and a new stadium around the National League South team – the Ebbsfleet United F.C. (UK) – have been refused by the government after the ministers raised concerns about lead pollution, jobs and a safeguarded minerals wharf.

‘BBC’ stated that the proposal for the land surrounding the club’s Stonebridge Road ground in Northfleet included a new 8,000-seat stadium, hotel, the retail and leisure space, the community facilities, and the road improvements.

The Ebbsfleet United F.C. is a professional association football club based in Northfleet, Kent, England (UK). The club competes in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system.

The 4,769-seat Stonebridge Road Stadium is a multipurpose stadium in Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent, England (UK), also known as the Morrow Stadium for sponsorship reasons. It is primarily used for football matches. It serves as the home ground of the Ebbsfleet United F.C.

Decision Letter

‘BBC’ further stated that a decision letter raised concerns over the loss of Robins Wharf and the impact on the existing businesses and jobs.

The Robins Wharf (often spelled Robin’s Wharf) is an industrial aggregate wharf located on the River Thames in Northfleet, Kent, England (UK). It functions as a safeguarded port terminal handling the marine aggregates and the building materials Damian Irvine, Chief Executive, Ebbsfleet United F.C., said the club was “disappointed” by the decision.

The Britannia Refined Metals (a major European lead producer and precious metals refinery located in Northfleet, Kent, United Kingdom) said the site was not an appropriate location for the development.

Irvine said findings on lead toxicity in the report were a “major concern”.

‘Inward Investment’

Added Irvine, “We have been living and working here for the past decades. That one was confusing to us. Should we all be moving out? There are already thousands of people living and working here. Northfleet and Gravesham require inward investment. The Council does a great job trying to maintain the infrastructure and provide the services. However, our area can be improved with private investment. This was to deliver that – the medical facilities and homes that we badly need.”

‘Fly in the Face’

Continued Irvine, “For a Government that claims to have been builders not blockers and to be reducing red tape and do everything they can this decision seems to fly in the face of their public words. That’s our gut feeling.”

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) did not respond to Irvine’s comments but said the planning permission had been refused after the Secretary of State called in the application.

Legal Challenge

The department said all material was considered and the Minister’s decision was in line with the Planning Inspector’s recommendations and as the decision may be subject to legal challenge it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Net Zero

In a statement the Britannia Refined Metals said, “We recognize the importance of delivering new housing and supporting regeneration within the borough. But we considered that the proposed site was not an appropriate location for this development given its proximity to the significant existing industrial operations and the potential implications for our Northfleet site which plays an important role in the United Kingdom’s net zero and critical minerals supply chains.”

The Gravesham Borough Council, which approved the plan in 2024, said it was not yet in a position to comment on the decision.

‘Unacceptable Risk’

The decision letter noted about 650 existing jobs could be lost and questioned whether the scheme was deliverable because much of the land is not owned by the applicant.

The Government accepted the evidence that the future residents could be exposed to harmful levels of lead from a nearby lead refinery.

The letter said the residents and the visitors would be put at “unacceptable risk” from air and soil pollution and that no credible mitigation plan had been provided.

The benefits included the provision of 3,500 homes, affordable housing, a new stadium, open space, and job creation.

The Ministers concluded that the adverse impacts would “significantly and demonstrably outweigh” those benefits.

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