Medway Council is set to receive nearly £9.5million provisional funding to further transform Chatham town centre.
The council will receive £9,497,720 from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, which aims to transform high streets into vibrant hubs for future generations and to protect, and create, jobs.
The funding will be invested into Chatham to further economic growth, improve housing opportunities with mixed commercial use, create more jobs and provide a vibrant town centre experience.
Proposals include bringing vacant sites in the heart of the town centre back into use, creating vibrant public spaces which will improve wayfinding, accessibility and connectivity as well as strengthening the experience offered to visitors and residents.
Medway Council will now work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to discuss the final proposals which could include reconfiguring the first floor of the Pentagon Shopping Centre for community use; delivering a creative and collaborative workspace in the town centre to support the development of Chatham’s creative sector; creating an innovation hub to support business start-ups and restoring and redeveloping the vacant St John’s Church into a conference and coworking hub to meet growing.
Making Chatham an even better place to live, work, learn and visit
Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded £9.5million provisional funding to help further transform Chatham town centre. We are continuing to invest heavily in Chatham with the acquisition of the Pentagon Centre and the Waterfront and Garrison Point developments which will provide high-quality housing in the town centre. Despite the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, Medway is resilient and it is vital that we continue to look towards Medway’s future and continue to invest in our town centres to support our economy, local businesses and jobs. We are committed to making Chatham an even better place to live, work, learn and visit.”