Designs for Ramsgate’s Newington and Broad Street projects on view at public event

Thanet District Council is inviting members of the public and contractors to learn more about its designs for the Newington Community Hub and its Broad Street property in Ramsgate. These projects are both part of Ramsgate’s Levelling Up Fund and Future High Street Fund regeneration programmes. 

The Newington Community Hub will provide improved facilities for local people. The existing Community Centre will be enhanced with an extension to house a larger kitchen facility. Together with the addition of a community garden, the new kitchen will allow the Newington Community Association to expand its popular food and cookery programme.

The 5a Broad Street project will see the site refurbished to provide workspace in Ramsgate town centre that is tailored for creative and third sector businesses. The facility will also be home to a new skills and careers hub.

A public exhibition of the designs for both projects will take place at Arch 6, Military Road, Ramsgate CT11 9LG on the following days and times: 

• Tuesday 28 May, 2pm to 7pm
• Thursday 30 May, 9am to 12pm

There will be a number of boards on display showing the designs. The council’s Levelling Up project management team will be there on both days of the exhibition to answer questions. 

This latest exhibition follows a public event held at the Crane Shed, Ramsgate Harbour in July 2023, where people viewed proposals and gave their feedback on the designs for a number of projects taking place under the Levelling Up Fund. 

The feedback provided has helped to shape a planning application for the Newington Community Hub, which has now been submitted. Members of the public can view the application and register their feedback on the council’s Planning Portal using reference: F/TH/24/0435. The closing date to register feedback is Thursday 30 May 2024. 

Planning permission was granted for the 5a Broad Street project in November 2023 with works expected to commence later in 2024.  

Local contractors are also invited to the public exhibition, to find out more about the upcoming construction opportunities on these, and other projects. Contractors who are interested should register on the dedicated London Construction Programme (LCP) Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) procurement portal, where tenders will be advertised from July 2024.

Cllr Rick Everitt, Leader of Thanet District Council said: “We are determined that the Levelling Up programme will make a significant contribution to the town of Ramsgate, its residents, and the wider local community. I am very pleased that the Newington Community Hub has now progressed to the planning stage, following the successful application for Broad Street. I’m also pleased that soon we’ll be able to announce opportunities for suitable contractors to tender for projects. This provides an opportunity for local operators to tender for these projects and get involved.”

After the exhibition closes, members of the public are still invited to drop in to the Project Office on Military Road to find out more about the Ramsgate Levelling Up projects. The office will be open every Tuesday (2pm – 4pm) and every Thursday (9am – 11am), and on the third Thursday of each month (4pm – 6pm). 

Thanet District Council was awarded £19.8million for Ramsgate in October 2021, through the government’s Levelling Up Fund, and £2.7m in 2020, through the Future High Street Fund. In addition to the Newington Community Hub and Broad Street projects, the Levelling Up funding is supporting projects to create a Green Port, Green Campus, a new town square in Ramsgate Harbour, new uses for heritage buildings, and a community hub in Ramsgate town centre. 

There is more information about Ramsgate’s Levelling Up Fund projects on the council’s website.