Today (Thursday 2 February), the Communities and local government minister, Andrew Percy MP, confirmed the successful Local Enterprise Partnership bids across the country, with Kent being awarded £34.2 million.
In Rochester and Strood, funding has been secured from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) to develop two projects. This includes £3.5 million to develop the Strood Civic Centre site and £3.7 million to Rochester Airport Technology Park to develop onsite infrastructure and private business development.
In particular, at Rochester Airport, the £3.7 million fund will go towards expanding infrastructure at the site for businesses and up to 1,300 new jobs. Strood Civic Centre site will benefit from improved flood defences that will pave the way for new homes and businesses at the former brownfield site. It is expected a further 500 jobs will be created from the development alongside 450 new homes and services, all with un-interrupted views of Rochester Castle and the Cathedral.
Kelly Tolhurst MP made a number of representations across Government and the SELEP over the past few months to help prioritise and secure significant funding for these projects, while also highlighting a number of other important infrastructure programmes that were not successful on this occasion.
On the announcement, Kelly said,
“This is fantastic for Rochester and Strood and great to see the amount of hard work dedicated to securing this funding has paid off. As ever, it is a thorough bidding process so it is hugely welcome that the importance our local needs has been recognised.
“This funding will be vital towards strengthening our local economy, create jobs and paving the way for development in the appropriate places. The expansion at Rochester Airport is particularly pleasing given the massive contribution it has made to the area and I am delighted it will be able to flourish in future.
“There is much more we want to achieve across Rochester and Strood and a number of other projects need similar recognition and attention, and I will be continuing to make representations ahead of the next round of funding”