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Swale: an overview

The area has been in slow decline for a number of years but new residential and business developments are hoping to turn this trend around.

Projects include the regeneration of Queenborough and Rushenden, the new Sheppey Crossing bridge, the Rushenden Link Road and Sittingbourne Town Centre regeneration.

Old and new Sheppey bridges. Image: Carillion

7,600 home are due to be built in Swale in the period 2006-2026. 12,000 new jobs are anticipated for the borough between 2001 and 2016.

Where is it?

The borough of Swale, north of the M2 and stretching as far as Teynham, marks the eastern section of the Thames Gateway.

The area is also located between the North Kent Coast and the North Downs, some 40 miles from London and 20 miles from the M25, and currently has a population of around 125,000.

Queenborough and Rushenden

Planning to redevelop these two communities on the Isle of Sheppey has now been submitted.

Queenborough & Rushenden. Image: SEEDA

• Planning permission submitted
• Two major employers planning to provide 500 jobs
•Ìý 2,000 new homes planned

Plans include 18 hectares of residential and community building, a 64 hectare business site and a new 1km Rushenden Link Road which will include a bridge over the railway.

Some work is already underway and The Castle art gallery has opened its doors. The Sheppey Crossing opened in 2006, providing better transport links for the island.

• 161 hectare site, either side of Queenborough Creek
• £12m package approved for the new Rushenden relief road
• 180,000 sq m new employment space, creating up to 1,000 jobs
• 180 berth marina
• New school
• New public square with shop and health centre

Who's involved?

Swale Forward is the regeneration partnership in charge of overseeing the regeneration of various sites in the area and the building of new homes and business space.

The redevelopment of Queenborough and Rushenden have been funded by a cash injection of £7million from the Department for Communities and Local Government [DCLG], and £3 million from the South East England Development Agency [SEEDA].

The Queenborough & Rushenden Regeneration Project delivery team, which is made up of representatives from Swale BC, KCC, Swale Foreward, Amicus-Horizon, Queenborough Town Council and local representatives, is overseeing all work in the Q&R area.

Essential links

For much more detail on these developments, including photos, maps and planning documents, click on the links below:

Or you can contact:

SEEDA
The Observatory
Brunel
Chatham Maritime
Kent
ME4 4NT
Tel: 01634 899 900

Swale Borough Council
Swale House
East Street
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 3HT
Tel:Ìý 01795 424341