First New Look At Town Centre Transformation

New CGI images of the Spirit of Sittingbourne's planned regeneration project have been released by Swale Borough Council, as new restaurants and retailers sign up to come to the town.

Swale Borough Council and The Spirit Of SIttingbourne have confirmed that Pizza Express, Wildwood, Home Bargains and Travelodge have all signed up to come to the town.

To celebrate these new arrivals to Sittingbourne, a pizza party will be held at No.34 Sittingbourne High Street this coming Saturday (15th October). All are welcome to pop along between 11am-2pm to design their favourite toppings and enjoy a free pizza in return.

Will Mooney, partner at Carter Jonas, acting as outsourced development manager for Travelodge, told SFM News: "Sittingbourne is an important location for Travelodge. We have been trying to secure a quality site for some years.
The quality of the scheme, the central location and associated retail and cinema occupiers were key to Travelodge's decision in committing to the town."

Russell Kirkham, Head of Acquisitions at Pizza Express, told SFM News: "We're thrilled to announce that Pizza Express will be arriving in Sittingbourne as part of this exciting new regeneration development. The project looks set to put Sittingbourne on the map and it's great to be a part of it."

A spokesperson for Wildwood, said: "We are delighted to announce that we will be joining this important town centre initiative and look forward to working with Swale Council and U+I to open our doors to the residents and visitors of Sittingbourne."

Cllr Andrew Bowles, Leader of Swale Borough Council told SFM News: "Our ultimate aim for this regeneration scheme is to breathe new life into the town centre, so existing shops can thrive, and new businesses choose to open in the area. The cinema will be complimented by the restaurants and hotel, and will provide a welcome boost in the number of visitors to the town. We know people are impatient to see work begin, but this is a complex development, with many interlinked aspects that need to be resolved to make sure the scheme is the success the town deserves."

Richard Upton, Deputy CEO of U+I told SFM News: "Signing up these businesses demonstrates how much interest and opportunity there is in Sittingbourne, and our commitment to the ongoing revitalisation of the area. We expect that news of this will draw more leisure and retail operators to the town centre - helping to make Sittingbourne a true destination town."

Mark Quinn, Chairman of Quinn Estates, the operator of the project, added: "Today's announcement shows confidence from wider businesses and retailers in our plans for Sittingbourne's regeneration; it also reflects the hard work of the Spirit of Sittingbourne team, and shows we can deliver what this town needs and deserves."

The Spirit of Sittingbourne development is a Public Private Partnership between U+I, Swale Borough Council, Quinn Estates and Essential Land. The scheme includes the remodelling of the town centre and the introduction of a new highway arrangement outside the railway station, to create a more pedestrian friendly environment without restricting traffic flow. Initial highway works will be the first to commence.

If you want to find out more please visit: www.spiritofsittingbourne.com.