£20 million levelling up bid for Sheerness submitted

Published Thursday 28 July, 2022
Last updated on Thursday 28 July, 2022

Swale Borough Council has submitted an ambitious £20 million bid to the Government to improve health, education, leisure and employment opportunities in Sheerness.

The Sheerness Revival project will deliver real improvements for the town if the bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund is successful.

If approved, the funding will see the existing health centre expanded to provide more and better services from the Healthy Living Centre.

There will be new courses offered by Sheppey College, giving young people aged 14 – 18 on the Island easier access to more training and education opportunities. The conversion of the Master’s House studios to creative workspace will help create and support local jobs.

New leisure activities such as soft play, adventure golf, TAG active, new café and outdoor gym at Beachfields will give local people and visitors a greater choice of things to do in the town.

The funding would also deliver public realm improvements from the train station and around the leisure complex. Improvements will be made to better connect the high street, train station and seafront to encourage visitors to explore and enjoy more of the town.

Cllr Monique Bonney, chair of the regeneration and property committee at the council, said:

“We need to make sure we submit a well thought out bid to take advantage of the opportunities from the Levelling Up Fund, so we can make a real and lasting difference to local people’s lives and opportunities.

“We’ve spent months working with the local community to come up with options and costings for ideas and plans.

“I don’t think Swale has ever bid for something on this scale before, and we’ve had to work hard with our partners to put together a strong bid that ticks all the boxes the Government want.

“For this funding, we had to have the endorsement of the local MP Gordon Henderson, who has not hesitated with his support of the plans.

“Now the bid is submitted we have a nervous wait until the autumn to hear if they’ve been successful.

“This is a major step towards the revival of Sheerness, with benefits that spread across the whole Island.”

Gordon Henderson, member of parliament for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, said:

“I’m delighted to support this bid by Swale Council.

“It is very important that we work together to do what we can locally to level up, by improving the economy on the Isle of Sheppey and providing more employment opportunities for local people.

“If successful, the funding from the Government will help the Council achieve that.”

For more information on the bid, visit www.swale.gov.uk/levelling-up.