News

Government Gives Rushenden Link Road the Green Light

6th June 2006

£12 million of Thames Gateway funding has been made available for the Rushenden Relief Road in Kent, DCLG Minister Angela Smith announced today.

The new Rushenden Relief Road will unlock new development by linking up to the new Swale Crossing, which has seen over £100 million of Government investment to upgrade the local transport infrastructure.

This new scheme - championed by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) - has been designed by the local community, and will create over 2,000 new homes and 90,000 square feet of commercial floor space.

The announcement was made in the House of Commons today in response to a parliamentary question from local MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Derek Wyatt.

Welcoming the announcement, Angela Smith, said:
"This £12 million contribution to the scheme will kick-start the regeneration of the area. We need to see both good quality jobs and housing being delivered in the Thames Gateway, and the Queenborough and Rushenden scheme will deliver on both fronts. The Relief Road will be the final catalyst to open up these development opportunities on the Isle of Sheppey."

Chief Executive of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Pam Alexander, welcomed the investment. She said: "All the partners will be pleased that this funding has been provided to help us to take forward the community's ambitions for Queenborough and Rushenden. This scheme will build on key transport improvements already delivered in Swale. This investment demonstrates new Ministers' continuing commitment to this part of the Thames Gateway and will help us bring forward a high quality link road which will benefit the whole regeneration scheme."

Source: Department for Communities and Local Government