Dover District Council gets £3.2 million in Government’s Future High Streets Fund
09:54, 09 April 2021
updated: 10:27, 09 April 2021
A £3.2 million bid to facelift Dover's town centre has been successful.
Dover District Council made the application to the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.
Together with a £1.7 million commitment from the council's Town Centre Regeneration Fund, the £4.9m plans will deliver two projects to increase footfall and local spending on the high street area.
The plans complement existing projects to rejuvenate Dover town centre, including the £9.1m Lottery funded restoration of the Grade I Listed Maison Dieu, Dover Town Hall, and a £2.95m Coastal Community Fund project to revamp Market Square.
At the heart of the latest plans is a £2.9m project to comprehensively redevelop part of Bench Street.
The route is on a straight link between the seafront and town centre and a new creative space will form part of a mixed-use development that will also include seven homes.
There will also be a £2 million reimagining of the subway under the A20 on Townwall Street.
This is to encourage greater movement of people between the town centre, seafront and cruise terminals and link with the £250m Dover Western Docks Redevelopment, including the new marina.
DDC says that together with the proposed Creative Centre at Bench Street this will enhance the offer of the lower high street and create a feature for the area.
Roger Walton, council strategic director for operations and commercial, said: “Town centres have a key role to play as we come out of lockdown.
"This new funding helps us to deliver projects that will change public perceptions of Dover, from a place to pass-through to a destination people want to visit, stay and live.
"This would be a vibrant mix of retail, leisure and cultural opportunities appealing to both residents and visitors.”
