View of Dover
DDC is working with a private sector partnership to boost regeneration and economic growth in Dover town centre.
The Council has teamed up with Willmott Dixon and Milligan to look at using key sites to enhance opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors, and help revitalise the town.
The work will focus on Dover’s delivery of the adopted local plan; improving public spaces, increasing town centre living, and bringing together mixed-used developments, including the possible creation of a public sector hub providing health and public services in the centre of the town.
It will also focus on key sites to realise Dover’s full potential, as a place to live, work, visit, learn and invest.
Work is set to ensure any new developments complement Dover’s current projects and heritage, while making sure they meet the needs of the community, bring confidence to the town and boost its future prospects.
This comes at an exciting time for Dover with the upcoming reopening of the Maison Dieu following a £10.4m restoration, the ongoing construction of The Bench building – a business, education and creative centre – and the new-look Market Square.
Nadeem Aziz, Chief Executive of Dover District Council, said: “We know how much potential Dover town centre has, and we’re already seeing this with projects such as the Maison Dieu and The Bench building.
“But there is so much more it has to offer and working with Willmott Dixon and Milligan will help realise its full potential to create a thriving town centre.
“Our residents are at the heart of everything we do and that is why we are looking at blending public and private sector investment to help create a transformational masterplan to benefit the community.”
David Atkinson, National Head of Land and Development at Willmott Dixon, commented: “We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Milligan and working alongside Dover District Council on this ambitious regeneration programme. Dover is uniquely positioned for growth, and we are committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions that will enhance the town centre and benefit the community for generations to come.”
Stuart Harris, Chief Executive at Milligan, added: “Dover’s assets—its coastline, history, and connectivity—make it a prime location for transformation. Working collaboratively with the Council and local stakeholders, we will help shape the next chapter, creating a vibrant town centre that blends public space, residential living, and mixed-use developments. The tourism opportunity at Western Heights has exciting potential to enhance the town’s heritage and tourism offer by introducing something new and very unique.”
This marks a bold step forward in Dover’s long-term regeneration strategy, setting the foundation for a town centre that is both commercially successful and serves the community. As plans take shape, further details on the development sites and proposed projects will be released in due course.
Posted on 14 April 2025