MEDWAY is to share in an £11.6 billion regeneration scheme along the corridor between London and continental Europe, it has been announced today.

The scheme, which is expected to create 84,000 jobs directly and another 17,000 indirectly, would bring 50,000 more houses in Dartford, Gravesend, Medway and Swale.

The area is to get another boost with a conference in June aimed at putting the area on the map as a city of culture.

Sir David Frost, who grew up in Gillingham, is due to speak at the event at the Colonial Building in Chatham Maritime.

Gillingham MP Paul Clark, who helped draw up the development blueprint said: "We have been working for the last 12 months on the plan to develop Thames Gateway area. This is the culmination of a lot of work by the private and public sector.

"It's a blueprint for jobs, opportunities, the environment and transport and will bring everything together to make a decent new community and renew the declining communities."

Lord Falconer introduced the development plan, known as the North Kent Area Investment Framework at a conference hosted by Thames Gateway Kent Partnership at Woodville Halls in Gravesend today.

Speaking this morning, he said: "As chairman of the strategic partnership I am very optimistic about the future of North Kent and the gateway as a whole.

"The government is committed to a regeneration of the gateway as a priority.

"Together we will create a new community building a bridge between London, the South East and Europe."

He used Rochester Riverside as a good example of work already carried out by the Kent Partnership, and would welcome further economic development on the Hoo Peninsula, especially Grain.