by Hayley Robinson

The regeneration of Sittingbourne town centre could start by 2013, a councillor has revealed.

Cllr Gerry Lewin says work is going on behind the scenes to hammer out the finer details of the plan before contracts are signed between the council and the Spirt of Sittingbourne Consortium.

The consortium is made up of Essential Land – developers of the old paper mill site – property developer

Cathedral Group and financial fund managers Alyton.

They were chosen by Swale council at the beginning of the year as its preferred partners to make the development a reality.

The building cost is set to be £150m but the long-term value of the project to the town could be as much as £1bn.

It’s hoped the consortium will submit an outline planning application next summer with work expected to start the following year.

Proposals include a public square in front of Sittingbourne railway station with a hotel and cultural facilities, a new health centre, shops and homes, plus a new civic building.

It is anticipated this will include a public gateway, library and space for Kent County Council (KCC) staff and will be in the area of the library in Central Avenue.

Inquiries have been made with KCC for the land to be transferred to Swale council.

Spenhill, the regeneration arm of Tesco, was recently granted permission to build a footbridge over the railway, linking land north of the station to the town centre.

It has since withdrawn this plan – it will now be delivered by the consortium – but has retained its proposal to develop two shops extending north of The Forum shopping centre directly to the south of the footbridge.

The outcome of both planning applications, as well as Essential Land’s plans for the old paper mill site, off Milton Road, which include a Morrisons supermarket, are expected to be determined by the end of the year.

Deputy leader Cllr Lewin said: "There’s lots of chess board pieces being moved.

"I’m delighted to see that progress is being made and to that our previously preferred partner, Tesco, is working in conjunction with us and our preferred partner so that feels good in the current climate."

Cabinet members were due to receive a progress report about the town centre plans when members met at Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, on Wednesday.