Ground-breaking work starts in Castle Street

Ground-breaking work has started on the construction of eight new homes on behalf of Dover District Council within the multi million pound St James's development.

A series of printed panels featuring a range of artwork has been put up on hoardings around the site in Castle Street, Dover, as ground work for the new flats gets started. The panels have been designed in-house by DDC, and include information on the St James's development and local heritage, as well as a collection of artwork by students from Astor College for the Arts and Dover Grammar School for Girls.

The new Council homes are part of DDC's commitment to develop a range of affordable housing options across the district, and follow the recent construction of three new council houses in Elvington.

Planning consent for the eight affordable flats was obtained by Bond City as part of the St James's development. The new flats are being built on land at 12-14 Castle Street, on the former MFI site. The site was purchased by the Council with funding provided by SEEDA and the Homes and Communities Agency. Work on the new flats is due to be completed by early Autumn.

Cllr Nigel Collor, DDC Cabinet Member for Access and Property Management, said: "It is great to see work starting on this key development site. Our thanks go to the local schools who helped with the design of the hoarding panels, and their fantastic artwork really helps to make this an excellent feature for the town. We apologise for the temporary inconvenience during the construction phase of these new homes, but this development will complement the Conservation Area, and vastly improve this site, and reaffirms DDC's commitment to developing affordable housing solutions."

For the latest regeneration news, including updates on the St James's development, visit www.investindover.co.uk.