district
focus
Swale Forward
An Exciting Retail Future
Work is underway to regenerate
Sittingbourne town centre to provide
the range of retail, leisure and
learning opportunities that a
growing town needs. With over 1,000
new homes coming forward as part
of the regenerated town centre,
Sittingbourne will be developed on
‘eco-town’ principles, with greatly
improved access to the Creekside
waterfront. A master plan for the
town centre is currently being
developed, with consultation taking
place in 2008. ≥
A new dual carriageway linking
Sheppey with the rest of Kent has
opened up the development of
Queenborough and Rushenden,
currently Swale’s largest single
mixed-use development. This will
deliver up to 2,000 new homes and
around 180,000 sq m of new
employment floorspace, including a
major regional headquarters facility.
Following a nationally acclaimed
community engagement process,
consultation on a master plan for
Queenborough and Rushenden
ended in December 2007, and
work will start on a new road to
serve the development in 2008.
Regeneration is starting to flourish in Swale with ambitious
new developments in Sittingbourne town centre and on the Isle
of Sheppey.
Kent Science Park
also continues
to lead the way in
attracting science
and knowledgebased
jobs to Swale.
The new Sheppey Crossing: Improved transport links are opening Swale to new investment
129
district
focus
the UK’s most significant ports in
the fresh produce and automobile
import sectors. Sheerness itself
has the potential for significant
regeneration in which the Port
will play a major role.
Culture and Heritage
Further east, Faversham is a classic
Kentish market town, offering an
excellent quality of life alongside
opportunities to reinvigorate the
links between its historic town
centre and Creekside. Along
with rural Swale, Faversham is
developing a high-quality tourism
offer, linked with Swale’s superb
natural environment.
One of Swale’s greatest assets
is the quality of its natural
environment, which includes the
internationally protected North Kent
Marshes and the North Kent Downs
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Regeneration in Swale seeks to
protect and enhance the natural
environment, while improving
access to and awareness of the
Borough’s stunning countryside.
Contact:
Tel: 01795 417399
rossgill@swale.gov.uk
www.swale.gov.uk
Development of the town centre
will come forward following the
completion of Sittingbourne
Northern Relief Road, which will
greatly improve access to the town
centre and the business parks at
Eurolink and Kemsley Fields.
Leading the
Knowledge Economy
To the south of Sittingbourne,
Kent Science Park offers a business
location of regional significance,
specialising in biopharmaceuticals
and life sciences. Since September
2007, the Science Park has been
home to Kent Science Resource
Centre, Swale’s first higher
education facility specialising
in one of Kent’s key growth sectors.
Learning and skills is a top priority
for Swale’s regeneration, and
development of a new further
education facility in Sittingbourne is
a major goal, and one that has been
identified in the Thames Gateway
Delivery Plan. This will complement
the extensive investment that has
been made over the past few years
in the Borough’s network of schools
and colleges.
A Gateway to Britain
Swale is also home to the Port
of Sheerness, part of the Thames
Gateway’s ports cluster, and one of
Kent Science Park
Delivering skills for the new economy
Picture courtesy of Kent Science Park
Picture courtesy of Green Tourism Business Scheme
130
One of Swale’s greatest assets is it natural environment
≥ Swale Forward continued...