Business boost for Romney Marsh on course
Rapidly taking shape is the New Romney Business Hub which is due to bring a range of business and job opportunities to the Romney Marsh area.
The external structure of the Mountfield Road building is virtually complete and the first fix on the interior is currently underway. The hub is on schedule to be finished by the autumn with the first occupants due to move in early next year.
The 14 rooms have been designed to provide flexible workspace for small businesses with the added potential of creating employment in the area by attracting new companies, including those which might be operating online from home.
The £2 million hub is the result of Folkestone & Hythe District Council securing a funding package with the not the profit regeneration company East Kent Spatial Development (EKSDC) and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) socio-economic programme.
On Wednesday (21 July) the council’s cabinet is due to discuss a grant scheme for businesses wanting to move into the hub. If given the go ahead the business grant scheme is due to be launched in September when marketing of space in the new business hub is to commence. The grant scheme will be overseen by a sub-group of the Romney Marsh Partnership.
After visiting the hub on Thursday and seeing the progress, F&HDC cabinet member for the District Economy Cllr David Wimble said he was delighted to see the building becoming reality.
He added: “The workspace being provided is fantastic – air conditioning, insulated walls to ensure the offices are soundproofed and access to a larger board room for all the businesses to use on the occasions they need it. This is a great addition for the economy of this area and I am sure that the space will be much in demand.”
Joining the visit was NDA Business Manager – Economic Development, Neil Smith. He said: “We are proud to a part of this project and I am very pleased to see the progress to date. You can really see how the hub is taking shape and what a real asset this will be for the local economy.”
F&HDC and East Kent Spatial Development Company (EKSDC) are contributing equally to the development by funding £735,000 of the cost.
The NDA grant is meeting £500,000 of the cost of the construction of the centre and providing a further £205,238 to allow a business adviser to be based in the centre for four years to support local businesses.
Businesses interested in the space offered by the hub can register an interest by emailing debbie.spalding@eksdc.co.uk
Opposite the hub in Mountfield Road work has also started on a new service road to open up five hectares of council-owned land. Getting Building government funding was secured to put in the road and utilities to enable businesses to develop their own units and bring 480 jobs to the area over the next ten years.
The project has been supported by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), Kent County Council and the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership.
