Consultation On Plans To Revitalise Town Centre

People can now have their say on Swale Borough Council’s plans to regenerate Sittingbourne town centre.

The plans are outlined in a draft supplementary planning document that is now available for public consultation after it was approved by councillors in December.

Following consultation, the document will then become part of the current local plan and will shape how the council considers new development proposals, outlining what developers and landowners need to include in planning applications.

Cllr Mike Baldock, cabinet member for planning at the council, told SFM News: “These exciting new plans to revitalise Sittingbourne town centre will bring much needed life to the area and we want to know what local people think. We plan to develop a leisure quarter, a historic quarter and a community hub, but it’s important that we hear from local people. They know better than anyone what their community needs. Once this draft supplementary planning document has gone through the consultation and approval process, it will sit alongside our current and future local plan. We have important heritage that will need to be considered when developing Sittingbourne town centre and it’s important that we preserve and promote what we have whilst incorporating these plans for the future.”

Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy at Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: “We have essential plans to revitalise Sittingbourne town centre, bringing much needed footfall to the high street and providing better links to surrounding areas. We’ve been committed to investing in our town centres and high streets and we want to hear from local people who really know what will benefit the area. We know we need not only leisure and businesses in our town centre but also a better healthcare provision that is easily accessible. We also need a range of housing in our town centre to meet the diverse needs of the population from young to old, including affordable homes. The consultation is now open and will run for six weeks, and I encourage people to take this opportunity to have their say on how we bring life and much need investment to Sittingbourne.”

The consultation is open from today (Monday 7th February) until 5:00pm on Monday 21st March.

The Sittingbourne draft supplementary planning document can be viewed online at www.swale.gov.uk/sittingbourne-spd or in-person at The Forum Shopping Centre, Swallows Leisure Centre and Sittingbourne Library.

Comments can be made on the council website, by email to lpcomments@swale.gov.uk or by post to Planning Policy Team, Swale Borough Council, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne ME10 3HT.