The final go-ahead has been given for a new multi-million pound business centre that will create hundreds jobs on Romney Marsh.

More than £3.5million government funding has been secured for the employment hub on the Mountfield Road Industrial Estate in New Romney, already home to dozens of other firms.

It was granted planning permission last year by Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

The Getting Building money, agreed in August but subject to the completion of a successful business case, will enable work to start on the development before the end of the year.

Cash will also come from the council and partners.

Construction of the new hub, stage one of the scheme, is to begin in December and is due for completion in Autumn 2021.

Stage two includes servicing of the remaining five hectares of land, and creating the road and utilities.

The project, supported by Kent County Council and the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership, is one of six in Kent chosen for being shovel-ready and able to help the local economy to recover.

A condition of the funding is that this work has to be completed by March 2022 and that more than 480 jobs are created for the local area over a ten year period.

Already interest has been shown in the land - owned by the council - by existing businesses.

It is also hoped that space will be developed to provide studio accommodation for creative businesses as part of a later phase.

The project has been headed by the council, with support from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).

Cllr David Wimble, council cabinet member for economic development, said: "This is tremendous news and the icing on the cake for the New Romney Employment Hub.

"The council’s economic development team has worked very hard to secure this funding which will enable land to be brought into use allowing businesses to both expand from existing premises or to provide space for those beginning new ventures."

Chair of SELEP’s Kent and Medway Economic Partnership federated board, Geoff Miles said: "These funding decisions will provide new facilities to boost our creative and life sciences sectors, as well as develop much-needed workspace for the county’s SMEs.”

South East LEP Chair Christian Brodie added: “Our partners and local areas have worked hard to get this funding into the local economy, where it’s urgently needed.

"We are working in line with central government’s Build Back Better initiative and are confident that these projects will deliver jobs, housing and the best support for businesses.

"Investment in the south east extends to the rest of the country. When we thrive, the UK thrives.”

The £2 million business hub is a joint venture made possible through the council securing a funding package with the East Kent Spatial Development Company (EKSDC) and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) socio-economic programme.

The authority and EKSDC are contributing equally to the development by each funding £735,000 of the cost.

The NDA grant is meeting £500,000 of the cost of the construction of the centre and providing a further £205,238 to allow a business adviser to be based at the business hub for four years to support local businesses.

It is hoped once complete, the new employment centre will help create jobs which will be lost through the current decommissioning of Dungeness A power station and the planned closure of Dungeness B in 2028.

The nuclear industry at Dungeness is one of the biggest employers on the Marsh, but will inevitably lead to job losses.

But the new investment means 20 new businesses will be able to set up at the purpose built hub before then.

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