The regeneration context in North Kent

The significance of the Thames Gateway and particularly the part of the North Kent sub region has been acknowledged and nationally recognised by UK government through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s report on “Sustainable Communities in the South East – Building for the Future”. This document acknowledges the need “to tackle the wide disparity between rich and poor communities”. Whilst wealth creation and a generally improved environment in North Kent will be initially driven by physical and economic developments, existing communities need to move forward and benefit from these changes. Cohesion between the new communities that will develop in North Kent and the sub-region’s existing communities like All Saints, Twydall and Swanscombe will be key to ensuring that development is sustainable and equitable.

In conjunction with this partners from the public, private and volunary and community sectors have drawn together the North Kent Area Investment Framework in 2001, setting out the current situation and where the sub-region aims to be in twenty years time. This documents the key developments that are necessary and attempts to cost them (some £11 billion is estimated), however it also stresses the importance of achieving sustainable communities across North Kent.

by Russ Patrick, North Kent Gateway Partnership, North Kent