A £6.7million grant has been awarded to regeneration schemes in Dovercourt town centre, it has been announced today (Wednesday, 15 March).

The Chancellor announced during his Budget speech that further awards had been made from the government’s Levelling Up Fund; and these include a successful bid for Dovercourt.

Originally submitted by Tendring District Council (TDC) last year, the Dovercourt bid is focused on town centre improvement projects as identified in the Dovercourt Revisited masterplan, and supports regeneration in the town centre next to Freeport East.

Specifically the funding will enable delivery of a refurbished library with skills centre, new social housing at the Milton Road car park, and public realm improvements along Kingsway from the station plaza to Marine Parade, including the High Street junction.

In the Budget it was also announced that Tendring was one of 20 areas to be part of new Levelling Up Partnerships, providing more than £400million across the next two years. Details of this are to be developed between local leaders and the government.

Lee Heley, TDC Corporate Director for Place and Economy, said the funding would complement the council’s existing investment in developing the former Starlings site to provide a car park, public toilets and event space.

“This funding will allow major improvements across Dovercourt town centre, providing both better facilities for local residents and a welcoming public realm for visitors coming to the area,” Mr Heley said.

“Now we have secured funding for these initiatives we look forward to developing detailed plans to engage with the local community on as part of the project process.”

In January it was announced that a Levelling Up Fund bid for £20million for Clacton had been successful. This bid is centred on the site of Carnarvon House and the town library to create a new library and learning space, café, a community and commercial building and 28 homes, along with improvements to the multi-storey car park.

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