Cllr Kevin Mills, Leader of DDC (right) is pictured with Martin Sandall from contractors Jenner at The Bench building in Dover
A multi-million pound landmark development in Dover has reached the next key stage - as contractors hand The Bench building over to Dover District Council and new tenants get ready to move in.
The Bench building, as part of the transformational Dover Beacon project, is now ready for tenants to start fitting out works.
East Kent College, Benchworks and Docker Bakery are all ready to start moving in, with Screen South set to follow a little later.
The building is set to be operational and officially launched to coincide with the college September term. The café will be operational slightly earlier with a ‘soft launch’ to ensure everything is ready for September.
This follows news of the topping out ceremony in September 2025, where a range of partners joined together to mark the pivotal topping out stage of this exciting development, signifying the completion of the highest point of the new building.
The Dover Beacon project is set to deliver over £90m of economic benefit, bringing investment to boost jobs, skills and educational opportunities across the district, with the new Bench building providing the catalyst for future investment in the area, with a further education campus, business centre and creative centre.
Cllr Kevin Mills, Leader of Dover District Council said: “We are delighted to welcome news that The Bench has been officially handed to the Council. This transformational project is now all set to provide an incredible boost to Dover and the area, supporting regeneration, providing business and creative spaces, and creating exciting new jobs, and access to education, training and skills opportunities for young people. We look forward to welcoming tenants in and to opening the doors soon.”
Notes:
The Dover Beacon project is funded by two key funding streams, combined to deliver creative solutions for the future of the town, and includes:
- A creative centre and underpass improvements with £3.2m of funding from the Future High Street Fund, together with a £1.7m commitment from DDC
- An education campus, business start-up centre, and improved public realm with £18.1m funding awarded from the Levelling Up Fund, together with £1.8m from DDC.
Posted on 14 July 2026