Buckland Mill development provides key regeneration boost

Dover District Council is welcoming major news that the first stage of the multi million regeneration of the former Buckland Mill in Dover was launched last week - providing vital affordable housing and a further boost for regeneration in the district.

Conqueror House and Watermark House provide 51 affordable homes for rent and five for low cost home ownership on the old Buckland Mill site. It is the start of a regeneration programme that is planned to see 400 homes and a community centre built on the historic site over the coming years.

The first phase of the development is a partnership between Town and Country Housing Group, Dover District Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), who provided a grant of £2.65 million. The next phase of the development is due to be undertaken by Gillcrest Homes in the near future, also working with the HCA.

This comes as a further 40 flats and houses have been completed at a separate development in the town, at Maison Dieu Road in Dover.

According to the National Housing Federation, it is estimated for every £1 invested in housing, the wider economy benefits by more than £2.80, and for every new home built, one and a half jobs are directly created, with up to four more in the wider supply chain.

Dover District continues to benefit from the certainty of having the Local Development Framework in place, following the adoption of the LDF Core Strategy in 2010, which sets out the future for the area over the next 20 years.

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said: "We are very pleased to see the first stage of the multi million pound regeneration at Buckland Mill opened. Affordable housing plays a key part in fulfilling the established housing needs across the district, alongside a range of housing types, and developments like this are leading the way for regeneration for the future."