Hundreds of millions of pounds is to be spent on the drastic transformation of a Kent waterfront, bosses have revealed.

The staggering cost of making upgrades to three key areas of Dover’s coastline over the next three decades has been laid out, with new homes and offices planned, as well as improvements to the busy port.

The project is to be known as ‘Port of Dover 2050’ and will see work carried out at the Western Docks, along the waterfront, and at the Eastern Docks.

Doug Bannister, the chief executive of Port of Dover, could not put an exact figure on the ambitious regeneration, but confirmed it would reach a nine-figure sum.

He said: “We're working through what all the detailed cost estimates might be, but safe to say it’s going to be hundreds and hundreds of millions of pounds to deliver it, but it's over the next 30 years.

“Each of the components, the Western Docks, the Eastern Docks and the waterfront, all have projects that are starting now.”

At the Eastern Docks, where cars and lorries board ferries to France, the port infrastructure will be modernised with new and upgraded ferry berths.

Additionally, more space will be made available to take ferry traffic.

This is particularly needed because at times of high demand, like the summer holidays or flashpoints such as strikes in Calais, port traffic can overspill and gridlock the town.

The port has also been helped by a £45 million government Levelling Up Fund grant, awarded last year to ease traffic.

Another £3.5 million was announced by the Department for Transport in August.

The waterfront is aimed to be turned into a regional tourist destination and centre for entertainment and recreation, with space for new homes.

The promenade along Waterloo Crescent and opposite the beach will see the addition of a play area for children, with images showing stepping stones leading through grass walkways.

Land once taken by De Bradelei Wharf shopping centre, which was knocked down in October 2023, could be converted into a new commercial quarter.

This would have offices for both port employees and others involved in port or maritime-related activity. These would be on the upper floors with possibly cafés or restaurants on the ground floor.

Mr Bannister added: “A ‘maritime innovation hub’ has been talked about for the land around De Bradelei Wharf.

“Right now we've got to determine what the funding is and what the requirements are to come up with the actual physical plans for what we might actually do.

“One of the concepts as we've identified in the Port 2050 work is that we may create along the ground floor around De Bradelei Wharf commercial offerings, whether those are cafés or restaurants.

“On the upper floors perhaps above that is where we get the office accommodation.”

At the Western Docks, an expanded cargo terminal is planned so more imported and exported goods can be handled, bringing with it new jobs.

Changes will also be made to provide space for larger cruise ships and more passengers.

The Port of Dover 2050 project follows in the footsteps of the £250 million Dover Western Docks Revival, which was carried out in phases over the last decade.

It ended last month with the infilling of Granville Dock with neighbouring waterways Tidal Basin and Wick Channel.

That was to create space for waiting vehicles as they prepare to leave the country when the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is launched - now expected to be next year.

The new measures, which will require fingerprinting and facial recognition checks at all ports, were scheduled to come into force on November 10, but have been delayed.

Sand has been used to fill in the former Granville Dock and, once settled, will be used for queuing traffic in a bid to prevent clogging up roads.

Mr Bannister said: “We accelerated the dock infill primarily to create more capacity for being able to conduct a portion of the EES process, mainly the car registration.

“We needed more land within the port to be able to do that. And that was the only place we could create it."

The Dover Western Docks Revival scheme also saw the creation of the Marina Curve last year, as well as a second wave barrier.

But the investment at the waterfront is not the only ambitious development taking place in Dover.

A new education and arts centre will be created in Bench Street, while a £10 million renovation of the Maison Dieu building is ongoing.

Dover Fastrack – a new electric bus service – will also launch this month, and The Citadel, on the Western Heights, is also being made over, with a new cafe and planned hotel and restaurants.