Mark Quinn, Director of Quinn Estates outside The Foundry. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Trevor Sturgess

A former iron foundry site is set to create 120 jobs.

The first eight units at The Foundry Business Park, Faversham, have been unveiled, with the promise of 30 more to come over the next two years. The scheme will offer 70,000 sq ft of much-needed commercial space. Most of the initial units have been let.

The seven-acre site, derelict for around 10 years, had to be decontaminated at a cost of £1m before development work could start.

That cost ruled out a park solely for business use and developer Quinn Estates decided to create a mixed use site, adding 78 lakeside homes to make the project viable. The house-building contract has been awarded to Redrow.

Mark Quinn, the developer's founding director, said the scheme in Seager Road would eventually create 120 jobs. It had removed a contaminated eyesore and created a fully remediated site. It was something the area could be proud of.

Swale councilor Michael Henderson said the foundry site had been a blot on the landscape. But the new development would employ more people than the foundry, whose origins date back to 1890. They would also be quality jobs. "It's a terrific development, regenerating an area that was awful and it's a real win for Faversham."

Furniture specialist Yannick Chastand, who was born in Paris, said it was ideal for his business. "I love the idea of Faversham being on my address," he said.