Strategic Priority Two - Growing our economy
Dover District to be a leading destination to live, work, visit, learn, and invest.
We are passionate about growing an inclusive, sustainable economy that works for all, leaving no one behind. Placing economic opportunity at the centre of the district’s renewal and prosperity, we will nurture diverse, distinctive, and vibrant places – especially within our town centres - which widen opportunity and unlock talent.
Building on the district’s strengths, we will work to stimulate new development, funding, and investment, bringing better, well-paid jobs and accommodation (employment space, learning space and housing) to the area while also upskilling the local workforce to meet the future needs of employers. Seeking to capitalise on innovation, digital, creative, tourism, maritime, and green growth potential, we will become a place of opportunity where young people can thrive, helping us to retain and attract young talent to the district.
Promoting the district as 'open for business’ and encouraging growth, visitors, and inward investment
- Developing an economic identity for the district capitalising on our high-speed rail connections to London, proximity to Europe, and gateway location.
- Continuing to develop the “Invest in Dover” and “White Cliffs Country” brands/websites/social media as critical tools for highlighting opportunities for businesses and visitors.
- Delivering a Local Plan that supports high-quality employment, housing, and tourism sites to secure investment and support infrastructure.
- Delivering our adopted Economic Growth Strategy and Tourism and Visitor Economy Strategy to directly support place, tourism, economic development, and inward investment.
- Focusing on regenerating Dover Town through delivering the Dover Beacon (Bench Street) catalyst project, a mixed-use development with a further education (digital and creative) campus, business, and creative centres, as well as improvements to the underpass and public realm.
- Revitalising our high streets to meet the changing needs of the communities and visitors they serve, including through new cultural, visitor, housing, and leisure opportunities.
- Providing safe, clean, well-managed town centres with appropriate facilities and maintenance.
- Working with partners to deliver a range of business support initiatives, advice, and funding opportunities.
- Maximising the social and economic impact of our procurement and spending to benefit local businesses, local jobs, and community development.
- Reviewing car parking assets and policies to enable our regeneration aspirations and be fit for purpose to support residents, businesses, and visitor needs.
- Working to secure the success of current employment sites, such as Discovery Park, Port of Dover, and White Cliffs Business Park, ensuring a mixed economic base, including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, digital, maritime, logistics, and green growth.
- Collaborating with key partners to align strategic plans to encourage further investment by enabling the district to be an innovation hub, delivering new initiatives and a green agenda.
- Supporting the rollout and take-up of new technologies, such as superfast broadband and 5G.
- Working with local partners, including EKC Group, to develop skills and training programmes linked to existing and new sectors and investments in the district.
- Keep the district moving by lobbying for significant infrastructure improvements and transport links such as the A2/M2/ A258, Lower Thames Crossing and parts of the A256, strategic HGV facilities and last-mile solutions.