The first sod of soil has been turned today to mark the start of a £40 million project intended to transform a former Kent colliery into a sustainable energy park.

The ceremony heralded the start of the construction of Hadlow College’s visitor centre and training hub at what is now known as Betteshanger Sustainable Energy and Mining Heritage Park in Deal.

Backers hope the park will ultimately attract 100,000 visitors a year and create about 1,000 jobs.

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Built on the former Betteshanger Colliery spoil tip, it is the first phase in a two part project that will bring bespoke green technologies and renewable energy, along with a world class graduate and post graduate education research and development via the Betteshanger SustainableEducation and Incubation Centre.

“We believe Betteshanger Park has the potential to become a major visitor attraction, a unique eco-tourism destination and part of the ongoing emergence of East Kent as a great place to live, work and visit” - Project director Richard Morsley

Along with links to Discovery Park, it was hinted the project could become an extension of Sandwich’s Enterprise Zone.

The 192m zero carbon visitor centre will include a heritage museum to encapsulate the history of the Kent Coal Field.

Architect Tim Evans led invited guests on guided tours of the site.

He said: “The first thing you will see on arrival is the mining museum. From the museum it will be the conference centre, cafe, and on the other side of the kitchen is a retail unit.”

Contractors Wilmott Dixon are in charge of the development, using local firms and apprentices. The steel structure will have a pre-treated timber covering. “It will be pre-weathered with a charred effect in keeping with the dark painted farm buildings in the area,” Mr Evans added.

Building on the already popular cycle track, there will be cycle hire, a workshop and possible retail opportunity with changing rooms. Adjacent to that is the biomas energy centre which will be able to heat the buildings on the Fowlmead site - eventually the buildings on the Betteshanger Enterprise Park, across the A258 near Betteshanger Circle.The wooden adventure park that already attracts hundreds of families a week, will be moved 50m behind the new building, with the option to move it to the side while construction takes place.

The rood will harvest rain water, using it for plant watering, cleaning off bikes and muddy dogs.

Richard Morsley, director of Betteshanger Sustainable Parks, thanked the funders and partners.

He said: “This moment has been a really long time in coming for the local community and for those who have worked tirelessly to have something meaningful on this site ever since Betteshanger Colliery closed in 1989.

“Betteshanger Sustainable Parks represents more than the redevelopment of this former colliery site. It’s a project that will regenerate this part of east Kent preserving its history and heritage, delivering jobs, education and training and in doing so, a new future for often forgotten mining communities.”

Former Betteshanger miner, Gary Cox, agreed. He said: “From the first meeting we had with DDC and Mark Lumsden Taylor of Hadlow College, the enthusiasm and the dedication they had for our future was everything we had been waiting to hear.

“Today is a new era for our community - as it was 100 years ago when our families came to Kent to work in the new mines.”

Penny Mordaunt, minister for Communities and Local Government, addressed the gathering via video-link. She said: “This project ticks all the boxes for us. It’s going to be providing jobs for the local community and helping with regeneration. It is going to be providing skills for the future and a pipeline of entrepreneurs bringing new opportunities and higher wages to the local economy.”

Video: Hope for the future at former colliery. Edited: Jem Collins

Richard Morsley added: “We believe Betteshanger Park has the potential to become a major visitor attraction, a unique eco-tourism destination and part of the ongoing emergence of East Kent as a great place to live, work and visit.”