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History
Once an important seafaring town, the area of Queenborough and Rushenden has been in economic decline since the 1960s. However, the construction of the new Swale crossing presents a major opportunity for economic, social and environmental regeneration.
As a result, Queenborough and Rushenden is a key element of the Swale Priority Investment Programme to deliver extensive regeneration within the wider context of the Thames Gateway, with allocated funding of £7 million from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s (ODPM’s) Sustainable Communities Plan.
The regeneration project is being led by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), which has already invested £3m in the area, working with key partners including Swale Borough Council (SBC), Kent County Council (KCC) and Swale Forward to develop a Masterplan that will outline how the project will take shape.
SEEDA , in conjunction with SBC , has already prepared a Development Framework for Queenborough which was published alongside the Deposit Draft Local Plan Review by Swale Borough Council. The Development Framework builds on Local Plan policies AAP8, MU5 and MU6. Plans include 18 hectares of residential and community use with waterfront access, a 64 hectare mixed employment site and a new 1km Rushenden Link Road which will include a bridge over the railway.
Public consultation on the Local Plan and the Development Framework has been completed. In response to comments received the Framework has been amended and was approved by the Council’s Executive in December 2004. All further work will need to accord with the Framework document.
The next stage was to develop a Masterplan which looked in more detail at individual development areas, how and when development will be phased, when and what form new social and community facilities will take. Agreement as to what issues would be covered in the Masterplan was developed through the "Planning for Real" process and by Swale BC, SEEDA and Kent County Council through the Community & Skills group. The masterplan went out to formal consultation in November 2007. It is anticipated that the masterplan will be adopted by the Borough Council in summer 2008 and will form the basis on which applications for planning permission will be sought.
SEEDA is already working in partnership with Queenborough Town Council and a number of other groups on Sheppey to ensure total community engagement in not only the masterplan but the whole regeneration project.
If you would like to find out more information about the heritage of Queenborough & Rushenden then contact the Guildhall Museum in Queenborough High Street.