East Kent Partnership champions the economic, social and environmental regeneration of East Kent covering Canterbury, Dover and Thanet. It is a partnership that brings together the public authorities, businesses and voluntary and community sectors to ensure that they drive forward the agenda for a prosperous and caring community.
In August 2007, the final planning consent for the London Array wind farm was given when permission was granted for an electricity substation at Graveney, near Faversham. London Array is a partnership of Shell Wind Energy, E.ON, Dong Energy London Array Ltd and Farm Energy. It is a development of up to 341 turbines in the Thames Estuary, 12 miles off the Kent coast, which once completed will supply around 750,000 homes. The offshore consents for the project were granted by the government in December 2006.
Canterbury
Canterbury City Council has selected Capital and Counties as its preferred development partner for the regeneration of the Wincheap Estate in Canterbury. Proposals could include uses such as retail, housing, hotel, business, leisure, recreation and provision of open space and will aim to reflect a high quality, mixed-use development, set within a strong landscape framework that is well connected to the surrounding Wincheap area, the A28 and city centre. The partners are currently consulting with the local community about their vision for the site. Canterbury City Council is also working with Network Rail to prepare Canterbury West station and the surrounding regeneration zone for the launch of fast train services to the city in 2009.
Work is progressing on The King’s Mile Enhancement Project with investment secured from East Kent Partnership and SEEDA. The scheme is aiming to improve the quality of the environment in three of Canterbury’s historic streets - Palace Street, Guildhall Street and Sun Yard. The former Morrison supermarket has been redeveloped into an Aldi store and the site includes new offices and retail units.
Herne Bay
Canterbury City Council has consulted on four development options for Herne Bay. This is likely to lead to proposals coming forward to provide a mixed-use retail and residential development. Major improvements are planned for the town's Memorial Park and better connections between the seafront, the town, the park and the station are being pursued.
Pines Calyx, St Margarets Bay
Folkestone
KCC is working to revitalise the Tontine Street approach to the harbour. This will involve a complete remodeling of the street with ‘squares’ and planting. It will link with the University Centre, which opened in September 2007, the Performing Arts Centre, which is under construction, the proposed Adult Education Centre and the library and museum. The development will also support the work of the Creative Foundation in continuing to renovate retail units and promote the town to creative businesses.
Further progress has been made by landowners to create a comprehensive mixed use masterplan for the seafront and harbour areas. This is expected to include leisure, retail, residential and some office space together with a performance space and accommodation for the new university centre.
Offshore windfarm
Romney Marsh
Approval for the largest onshore wind farm in the South East - Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm – was given by the Government in October 2005. The development at Romney Marsh comprises 26 turbines and when completed, will generate enough energy to power around 30,000 homes. In May 2007, project developer, npower, confirmed its intention to start construction in the summer. It is anticipated that the first turbine will be erected in summer 2008 and that power generation will start later that year.
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Dover
The early momentum achieved by the Dover Pride regeneration initiative has picked up significantly over the last 12 months, and there is continued developer interest in the area for both residential and employment opportunities. Several projects supported by Dover Pride partners are now starting to get off the ground, including phase two of the White Cliffs Business Park, the Sea Sports Centre and the St James retail scheme which is expected to start soon. Further prospective development opportunities are also under consideration, including the Dover Mid Town area, the former Connaught Barracks and, in particular, the £300m expansion of the Western Docks.
Thanet
In June 2006, Kent County Council acquired land at Manston Business Park from the administrators of Planestation, the former owners of Kent International Airport. A masterplan for the land has been produced and studies undertaken into the capacity of the water utility infrastructure to service the site.
A joint venture between Kent County Council and Thanet District Council is being established as a delivery vehicle to bring forward development at EuroKent and Manston business parks. An outline planning application for both sites is being prepared.
The development of Turner Contemporary is a key element of Margate Renewal Partnership’s regeneration programme for the town. A planning application is expected to be submitted by the early autumn, with completion scheduled for spring 2010. Thanet District Council and KCC have shortlisted four developers to prepare proposals for a mixed-use development at the adjacent Rendezvous site. A masterplan and the appointment of one of the developers will be announced in December.
In April 2008 the Fort Hill dual carriageway is to be reduced to a single carriageway in order to improve pedestrian connectivity between the Old Town and Margate seafront. This will have a positive impact on the accessibility of Turner Contemporary, the pier and the remainder of the Rendezvous site.
There have been major improvements in the creative and cultural quarter of Margate’s Old Town and SEEDA is leading the development of the former Marks & Spencer site, which is expected to open up Cecil Square and provide a new route down through the Old Town.
A planning application for Dreamland, involving residential proposals, the creation of a ‘classic’ amusement park and improvements to the listed building is expected in autumn 2007. Margate’s listed pier is being improved with cafés and artists’ workshops and decorative lighting. The conversion of the old Sea Bathing Hospital into apartments is nearing completion and the construction of new build apartments on the site is going through the planning process. The Lido site was acquired in August by Paigle Properties. A planning application is expected to include the restoration of the lido swimming pool, a 200-bed hotel with associated leisure development and 400-500 apartments.
No Use Empty -
The East Kent Empty Property Initiative
The East Kent Empty Property Initiative has been working
successfully with the East Kent coastal districts of Dover, Shepway, Swale and Thanet to bring empty homes in these areas back into use. These include both private dwellings and commercial properties suitable for conversion into residential accommodation. The initiative is also working closely with the partner districts to tackle rundown vacant properties, which could act as a disincentive to regeneration. Over the past year No Use Empty has brought over 170 properties in East Kent back into use.
7-9 King Street, Margate, before (courtesy of Tamesis)
7-9 King Street, Margate, after (courtesy of Tamesis) |
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