Corner of Kent, England could replicate Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah islands

LONDON: Kent is set to host a series of man-made islands inspired by the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai in the UK’s first “Garden City” in 100 years.
A huge lake in Ebbsfleet Garden City in the north of the English county is being touted as an area where people would be able to grow and pick their own fruit and vegetables, visit an adventure playground for all ages or take part in sporting activities.
The series of islands would all be linked by walkways and one of them would be become an arts and culture island where open air productions and concerts could take place.
Floating hotel pods and an innovation area for start-up businesses would also be included as well as the Garden City’s very own beach.
And floating “eco islands” would encourage wildlife to live at the site in a series of insect hotels, bee hives and bat boxes.
The existing lake, which measures across 12 hectares, is currently inaccessible for the local community but could now be opened up and transformed.
The idea was the winning entry in an international landscape competition.
Called HALO, (Hives, Arcs, Links, Organics) the ambitious design would become one of the Garden City’s most prominent features.
Judges said HALO demonstrated exactly what they had hoped for — a design that was radical, but realisable. The panel was also excited by its possibilities, particularly because the design reflected the founder of the garden city movement, Ebenezer Howard’s concept of the best of town and country life.
Kevin McGeough, Director of Ebbsfleet Garden City’s Healthy New Towns project, said: “This exciting and inspiring design exceeded our expectations. We have been encouraged by the innovation and the wide variety of approaches in this scheme.
“The winning design could become one of the country’s most talked about and visited attractions.”

Corner of Kent, England could replicate Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah islands