Dover Town Investment Zone Update

Following a meeting of Full Council last night (Wednesday 28 July), Dover District Council has decided that it will continue negotiations with Bond City Ltd in the development of the St James' area of Dover, known as the Dover Town Investment Zone (DTIZ).

The target for negotiations will be to enable a final detailed report on Bond City's proposals to be presented to a future Council meeting no later than 3 November 2010. The report will provide alternative proposals that give full regard to the design and planning issues required to support an acceptable proposal.

At the same time, the Council's Director of Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Special Projects, will evaluate alternative options for progressing the scheme, reporting back to the same Council meeting.

Cllr Frederick Scales said: "The proposed development in the St James' area has a live planning consent and any new application must maintain the same standard of design and function."

The Council needs to take decisions about the future of the DTIZ scheme following Asda's withdrawal from the scheme late last year.

Both Bond City and the Council have been working hard since Asda's withdrawal to secure the future of this important regeneration scheme for Dover in the midst of the worst recession the country has faced for decades, which has seen the future options for Government support seriously threatened.