Growing the Kent economy 2016/17

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Growing the Kent Economy 2016/17
Shepway District Council also submitted
its Community Infrastructure Levy
Charging Schedule to the Planning
Inspectorate during the summer of
2015, for independent examination.
For further information please contact
the Council’s Economic Development
Team:
Thanet
With its multi-million pound regeneration
and modern infrastructure, combined
with a vibrant and creative coastal
lifestyle, Thanet is a prime location for
businesses to grow.
For logistics firms and multi-nationals,
the Port of Ramsgate is the second
closest UK port to mainland Europe with
modern Ro-Ro facilities to accommodate
large vessels. Plans to provide new
alongside berthing will attract a broader
range of vessels.
TheThanetWay provides dual carriageway
connectivity to both the M2 and the
M25, with road journey times from the
M25 being equal to those for Dover and
shorter than those to Harwich or Felixstowe.
High Speed One connects the original
seaside resorts of Margate, Broadstairs
and Ramsgate to London in only
75 minutes. Plans for a further £12m
investment will reduce journey time
to only 63 minutes along with a new
Thanet Parkway station by 2019 further
reducing travel time. Reliable arterial
road links to London and the Port of
Dover make the district an ideal place
for business.
Science and technology of a different
nature could be a core part of the
development of the 12ha (30acre)
Betteshanger Sustainable Parks by
the Hadlow Group. This unique £40m
Project, proposed for a former coal
mine site, will combine a 21st century
environmental complex of offices,
microbusiness incubation units for food
technology/agriculture/sustainable
energy with education, eco-tourism and
heritage. Phase 1 is under construction
creating a visitor centre comprising
Kent Mining Heritage Museum, Green
Energy Centre, café, conferencing and
a cycling centre at the Betteshanger
Country Park.
Dover District Council is the first local
authority in East Kent to have a full
Local Development Framework
following adoption of its Land Allocations
Local Plan (LALP). Together with the
Council’s Core Strategy, this gives
developers certainty about land
identified for potential development
for the next 20 years.
For information on doing business on
the Enterprise Coast:
or follow us on Twitter @InvestInDover
Shepway
With Folkestone’s High Speed One
journey to St Pancras in under the hour
and Eurotunnel providing easy access
to mainland Europe, Shepway is Kent’s
Connected Coast. Building on its
strengths, the district has experienced
major developments in the last year and
a new Economic Development Strategy.
Momentum continues with the
Folkestone Seafront development,
which has planning permission for a
mixed-use development and up to a
1,000 homes. The Harbour Arm opened
to the public during summer 2015 and
has attracted thousands of visitors keen
to experience new perspectives of the
harbour, seafront and Folkestone.
Taylor Wimpey are nearing completion
of the first phase of their 1,000 plus unit
housing development at Shorncliffe
Barracks, were sales opened in
March 2016.
Pentland Homes and Quinn Estates’
Eversley Park development has attracted
home buyers as properties come to
market. Pentland Homes’ Scholars Village
development in Folkestone has also
attracted high levels of buyer interest.
The Folkestone Townscape Heritage
Initiative supported by Heritage
Lottery Fund, Kent County Council
and Shepway District Council, is
refurbishing a number of properties in
the Heritage Quarter of Folkestone with
the first completions in October 2015.
The proposal for an urban sports park
will include the world’s first multi-storey
skate facility of its kind and amuch-needed
amenity for young people in Folkestone,
attracting a national and international
following. Popular sports will include
skateboarding, BMX-ing, rollerblading,
scootering, a potential new home for
Folkestone Amateur Boxing Club and
further provision for trials riders and
climbing enthusiasts.