A borough in Kent has been awarded a share of a multi-million-pound government fund to help its regeneration.

It has been announced today (November 20) that Gravesham will receive £20 million from round three of the Levelling Up Fund after it missed out on its second bid earlier this year.

Following the news, the leader of the borough council Cllr John Burden (Lab) said: “This funding will make a real difference to the lives of the residents of some of the country’s most deprived wards which can be found within our urban areas of Gravesend and Northfleet, as well as bringing wider benefits to the whole Gravesham community.

“There is a reason that the government identified Gravesham as a priority 1 area for levelling-up, as we experience some of the greatest health and well-being inequalities right here in our borough.

“We have more than 200 households in temporary accommodation; this morning, almost 2,500 households woke up in relative poverty; 16.6% of 16 to 64-year-olds in the borough are claiming Universal Credit; 42% of Year 6 children are classified as overweight, and nearly one-in-three adults in the borough are physically inactive.

“We will work with the relevant government departments to ensure this vital and welcome funding is used in a targeted and effective way on a specific project to tackle these and other challenges we face today.”

The cash will be used to fund the development of St George's Square which will include community, retail and leisure spaces, a new Civic Centre, theatre and homes.

Earlier this year, Cllr Burden said the "much needed future regeneration" of Gravesend town centre was at risk after the council missed out on the bid for the second time.

Speaking at the time, he added the decision was even more difficult to understand when the demographics of Pelham ward – where the development is earmarked for – were taken into consideration.

But the project is now one of four across the south-east to receive a share of £70 million from the round three funding.

The other places to be awarded a cash boost are Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and Andover.

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove added: “Levelling Up means delivering local people’s priorities and bringing transformational change in communities that have, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.

“Today we are backing 55 projects across the UK with £1 billion to create new jobs and opportunities, power economic growth, and revitalise local areas.

“This funding sits alongside our wider initiatives to spread growth, through devolving more money and power out of Westminster to towns and cities, putting in place bespoke interventions to places that need it most, and our long-term plan for towns.”

Since 2021, £3.8 billion from the fund has already been awarded to 216 projects which are underway.