A scheme costing more than £4 million, which completes the first stage of the regeneration of the former Buckland Paper Mill site, was officially opened on Friday.

Conqueror House and Watermark House provide 51 affordable homes for rent and five for low-cost home ownership. It is the start of a planned regeneration programme that could see 400 homes and a community centre built there over the coming years.

Some former workers from the mill were among those who attended Friday’s opening ceremony, along with residents who have moved into the new homes.

The development is a partnership between Town and Country Housing Group, Dover District Council and the government’s Homes and Communities Agency which provided a grant of £2.65 million.

Colin Lissenden, development director for Town and Country Housing Group, said: “I am delighted that we are the housing association that has the privilege to start the regeneration of this historic site and set the design template for future developments here.”

District council leader Cllr Paul Watkins said: “We are very pleased to see the first stage of this multi-million pound regeneration opened."

The mill, which closed in June 2000 with the loss of 109 jobs, had a long history of paper-making, including the Conqueror-watermarked business stationery.

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury.