Faversham Recreation Ground is set for a £1.9 million facelift, we can reveal today.

If Swale Borough Council's plans come to fruition, the park could be given a new lease of life, with refurbishments, cafe and a new outdoor performance space.

The council's cabinet is being asked to approve plans to apply for £1.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to carry out a wide range of improvements to the 20-acre park.

“The master plan was put together with local people, and shows our ambition to make it a real destination, where people can relax and unwind with all the family." - Cllr Simmons

The improvements are set out in a master plan for the site and include development of a retail cafe, new metal fencing on the boundary of Whitstable Road and Park Road, refurbishment of the main changing pavilion and toilet block, refurbishment of the exterior of the lodge, improvements to both the play area and skate park and the reinstatement of some areas of historical planting and hard features creating an outdoor performance space.

Cllr David Simmons said: “The Rec is a wonderful asset that has been enjoyed by the local community for more than 150 years, and we want to build on its unique heritage to make sure it continues to be enjoyed for generations to come.

“When we took on a new lease for the site, we agreed to carry out a number of improvements to the site.

"However, whilst these works would undoubtedly make a difference, we feel the Rec has even greater potential.

“The master plan was put together with local people, and shows our ambition to make it a real destination, where people can relax and unwind with all the family.

“To do this, we need to secure significant funding from other sources, which can take time, but the outcome will be more than worth the wait.”

The council, which leases the Rec from Faversham Municipal Charities, has already secured £274,000 from developers for improvements to the site.

It is proposed this will be used to develop and match-fund a bid to the HLF for a project worth approximately £1.9 million.

The HLF bid will be in two stages, the first of which should take around nine months will undertake detailed surveys, cost and further develop the project.

The second bid will be for the works to take place, over the following two years.

The cabinet papers setting out the proposals are available to read here.