Thanet District Council is inviting local people to experience Ramsgate’s planned regeneration projects, in a brand new way.
Virtual reality headsets will allow participants to join a tour around the town. The immersive journey lasts for approximately ten minutes, and showcases the designs for Broad Street, Ramsgate Harbour, the Clock House, Green Campus and the Newington Community Centre.
The virtual reality tour will give people a chance to explore the proposed designs for each location. As part of the journey there will be the opportunity to give feedback on potential activities at each site.
The free virtual reality experience is happening at Discovery Planet, 47 High Street, Ramsgate CT11 9AG. Members of the public are encouraged to book timed slots in advance via Eventbrite. Drop-ins are also welcome.
The event takes place on the following days and times:
- Friday 22 November, 1pm to 6pm
- Saturday 23 November, 11am to 4pm
A short trailer has been produced, which gives a flavour of the virtual reality experience.
Timeslots can be booked on the council’s website, where there is also a link to the virtual reality trailer.
In addition to the headsets, the virtual reality tour can also be experienced via an interactive touch-screen table and a video-game style console. Boards showing the designs for each of the Levelling Up Fund projects will also be on display. A special event for children and young people will also be held at Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School.
This latest event follows public exhibitions in July 2023 and May 2024, 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 received at both events was reviewed and has helped to shape the final designs. Planning applications for Broad Street, Newington Community Centre and the Green Campus have been submitted. The Clock House and Pier Yard developments are in the pre-planning stage.
Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, said: “This is a truly innovative way to bring Ramsgate’s Levelling Up Fund projects to life. The virtual reality tour showcases the designs for each of the sites, and will give a real flavour of the exciting projects planned for the town, as we move closer to delivering them. There will be an opportunity to tell us about the kind of activities that would appeal to you, at each site.
“I’m sure that the new technology on offer will appeal to a wide range of local people, especially our younger residents and people who have not yet seen the designs first hand.”
Digital Urban was appointed to create a virtual reality experience, showcasing the Levelling Up Funded projects around the town. The tour is funded through the government’s PropTech Round 4 which promotes digital citizen engagement.
Thanet District Council was awarded £19.8million for Ramsgate in October 2021, through the government’s Levelling Up Fund. The Levelling Up funding is supporting projects to create a Green Campus, Green Port, a new town square in Ramsgate Harbour, new uses for heritage buildings, and community hubs in Newington and Ramsgate town centre.
Further information about the Ramsgate Levelling Up projects is available on the council’s website.
