The first partner in the delivery of the town’s regeneration scheme has been announced.

Neighbour, a residential investment company, will manage the 215 privately rented apartments once they are built.

Scheduled for completion in 2016/17, they will be constructed by the Spirit of Sittingbourne consortium and split across three sites: Cockleshell Walk (62 units), Spring Street (88 units) and Fountain Street (65 units).

The flats are just one part of the £46m mixed-use scheme being developed by Cathedral Group in a public-private partnership that includes Swale council, Essential Land and Quinn Estates.

Last month, the local authority’s planning committee granted approval for phase one of the work, which also comprises a seven-screen cinema, 29,000sqft of restaurant space, 34,000sqft of retail space, a 308-space multi-storey car park, a new public square and a range of road improvements around Sittingbourne’s railway station.

It’s said the development will revitalise the area providing a catalyst for economic growth and investment and creating more than 700 jobs.

Richard Upton, chief executive of Cathedral Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Neighbour as our latest partner.

“Its investment is a further sign of confidence in our ambitious plans to transform Sittingbourne as a place to live, work and visit, and we will be looking to start work on construction of these high-quality homes as soon as possible.”

Kirk Pickering, Neighbour’s property director, said: “With its excellent transport links and the Spirit of Sittingbourne development underway, we believe Sittingbourne has a very bright future. We will be playing our part by delivering professionally-managed and attractive new homes for people to rent in the heart of the revitalised town centre.”

For more information on the Spirit of Sittingbourne visit www.spiritofsittingbourne.com

For information on Neighbour go to www.neighbour.co.uk.