Amanda Lumley, Regeneration and Project Manager, KCC, will discuss the Sea Change programme which aims to drive cultural and creative regeneration and economic growth in Dover.
Minutes:
Amanda Lumley, KCC’s Regeneration and Project Manager introduced herself and her colleague, Dave Hughes and then went on to describe Make Dover, the Sea Change programme in Dover.
Sea Change is a three year funding programme set up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that aims to kick start wider economic regeneration in coastal areas through specific investment in culture and heritage. The programme is being led by CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)who seek to use the Sea Change programme as a driver for cultural and creative regeneration in seaside towns by funding inspiring, creative and innovative projects, bringing a sense of pride, enjoyment and celebration. By attracting additional funding, it is hoped that Sea Change projects will act as catalysts for further economic regeneration in the towns, bringing in new visitors and revenue and giving the local residents a new cultural heart and a renewed pride in the community. The key criterion in choosing the coastal resorts is that they are areas of social and economic deprivation in need of regeneration.
Dover was invited to apply for this funding and was one of only three successful seaside resorts to be awarded a grant (the other two were Blackpool and Torbay). The bid was put together with Dover Pride and based on the Dover Masterplan, highlighting Dover’s historical, archaeological, cultural and strategic importance as a port.
There is £7.75m available for this project, 50% of this funding has been from the Sea Change programme, the rest from partners who include; Kent County Council, Dover District Council, Dover Harbour Board, English Heritage, SEEDA.
The Sea Change programme is all about making cultural connections. It is hoped that by working with English Heritage and using outreach and other ‘bridge building’ cultural projects, e.g. festivals, and events, it will help the Castle connect with the town and sea front better. A recent event Here and Now held at the Dover Discovery Centre during August by Dover Arts Development was very successful and included drawing, dance and food workshops. The High Speed Rail link will also provide opportunities for Dover as cultural regeneration will attract visitors and employment and encourage people to move out from London to Dover. And by looking at existing businesses the programme can connect with what’s going well at the moment and build on this success.
Projects that are specifically being looked at are;
· Castle refurbishment. Working with English Heritage improvements will include refurbishment of the Great Tower, a new admissions and visitors centre and improvement to the secret wartime tunnels.
· Esplanade. This will refresh and improve the new sea front connecting the new Sea Sports Centre and harbour area with the town. Architects Tonkin Liu won the recent national seafront design competition which will make the area more accessible and vibrant. As funding needs to be spent by March 2010 this project is being fast tracked, plans have been submitted and it is hoped the project will be completed within two years.
· Bleriot Monument. The restoration of this historic monument will be pivotal to raising the profile of Dover and it is hoped that there will be connecting trails to Dover’s other historical attractions.
· Cable Car.This will connect the castle to the town and sea front as well as becoming an additional community and visitor attraction in its own right. The commercial feasibility study has been favourable, now a technical feasibility study is being undertaken which will be completed by end 2009.
A key element to the Sea Change programme in Dover is community engagement and outreach. Support from local communities is recognized as being a key element for any regenerative projects and a firm of consultants, MUF architects, has been commissioned to undertake a cultural survey and framework to determine how the cultural potential of Dover can be raised over the next ten years.