Dover district has been granted Growth Point Status which will give a boost to the major plans to transform the area.

The announcement, by the Department for Communities and Local Government, follows the submission of a bid by Dover District Council last year, working with a range of partners including the South East England Development Agency, English Partnerships, Kent County Council, Dover Harbour Board and Dover Pride, in delivering the regeneration programme to achieve transformational change.

Growth Points are a government initiative to provide support to local communities who wish to pursue large scale and sustainable growth. The successful bid follows extensive work with a range of partners and means the Council will be able to gain access to special national funds to help with planning and delivering new developments.

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said: “Opportunities for growth and prosperity arrive very infrequently across the generations. When they occur they need to grasped and civic leaders and business need to have the courage to take far-reaching decisions. This is one such occasion."