Local Growth Fund projects
The government Growth Deal provided money to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) for projects to drive Kent’s economic and business growth.
The SELEP Accountability Board is responsible for making decisions and funding approvals for all schemes awarded funding as part of the growth deal bids to central Government. The SELEP Accountability Board provides a forward plan of all future meetings and decisions that will be taken as well as record previous meetings and minutes.
We have received funding for the following projects:
Schemes in progress
The Dartford Town Centre plans to improve of the layout of Market Street (A226) and the Hythe Street/Westgate Street Junction, including a new marketplace and better links through to the High Street and the station.
Keep Maidstone Moving is a package of traffic infrastructure schemes at congestion hotspots that aim to improve journey time reliability to support the delivery of significant housing and employment growth in Maidstone:
Construction of the M2 junction 5 improvements scheme began in September 2021. This scheme is led by National Highways.
Sturry Link Road project aims to reduce traffic through the centre of Sturry, relieve congestion at the Sturry level crossing and provide the highway infrastructure necessary to support the planned new housing.
Completed schemes
Innovation Investment Initiative
Offering loan and equity finance to small businesses with the appetite and potential for long-term growth. The Innovation Investment Initiative Scheme invests in projects which enable businesses to create and adopt innovative products, processes and services, delivering sustainable employment growth. The Innovation Investment Loan scheme (i3) was funded by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership's Local Growth Fund and has delivered up to £6 million in loans to local businesses.
Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport
The Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport project aims to improve the walking and cycling facilities in and around bus and train stations in Dartford and Gravesham, as well as improving the Fastrack service to reduce the reliance on cars.
Kent Strategic Congestion Management Programme
The Kent Strategic Congestion Management Programme is a set of schemes delivering improvements to maximise the efficiency of the local highway network as traffic levels increase in line with housing and employment site development.
West Kent Local Sustainable Transport (cutting congestion)
A package of schemes and initiatives to allow people to transfer between different types of transport, making sustainable transport a real alternative to the private car in Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling. This scheme was completed in 2021.
M20 Junction 10A, Ashford
M20 Junction 10A in Ashford was a National Highways led scheme. A new junction on the M20 east of the existing M20 Junction 10 was developed to link a new dual carriageway link road with the A2070 Southern Orbital Road to the south of Ashford. This scheme was completed in 2019.
Kent and Medway Engineering Design Growth and Enterprise (EDGE)
Kent and Medway Engineering Design Growth and Enterprise (EDGE) is a new 3,588m2 facility in Canterbury, with satellite facilities at Discovery Park. The project supports high value employment, growth and investment in engineering and technology businesses. This scheme was completed in 2020.
Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport
The Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport project aims to improve the walking and cycling facilities in and around bus and train stations in Dartford and Gravesham, as well as improving the Fastrack service to reduce the reliance on cars.
St Clements Way, Greenhithe
St Clements Way, Greenhithe Improvement Scheme is increasing the size and capacity of the St Clements Way/London Road roundabout and provide new bus lanes to reduce congestion. This scheme was completed in 2019.
Dover Western Docks Revival
Two roundabout junctions (Prince of Wales and York Street) on the A20 adjacent to the Western Docks were remodelled to improve the flow of traffic along the A20 and in and out of the docks. This scheme was completed in 2017.
Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport
The Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport project aims to improve the walking and cycling facilities in and around bus and train stations in Dartford and Gravesham, as well as improving the Fastrack service to reduce the reliance on cars.
Rathmore Road link, Gravesend
Rathmore Road Link, Gravesend is becoming a two-way road and additional road and junction improvements made so that the town’s railway station is integrated with the rest of the town centre. This scheme was completed in 2017.
Maidstone Bridges Improvement Scheme
Maidstone Bridges Improvement Scheme was the construction of two additional northbound lanes on the eastern side of the River Medway, with new junctions controlled by traffic signals. Additional works will also improve nearby pedestrian areas. This scheme was completed in 2016.
Maidstone sustainable access to employment areas
Maidstone sustainable access to employment areas included a project to upgrade the existing towpath along the River Medway in Maidstone between Barming and Aylesford. The project was designed to accommodate the increasing use of cyclists along this route. This scheme was completed in 2017.
West Kent Local Sustainable Transport (cutting congestion)
A package of schemes and initiatives to allow people to transfer between different types of transport, making sustainable transport a real alternative to the private car in Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling. This scheme was completed in 2021.
West Kent Local Sustainable Transport (cutting congestion)
A package of schemes and initiatives to allow people to transfer between different types of transport, making sustainable transport a real alternative to the private car in Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling. This scheme was completed in 2021.
A2500 Lower Road, Isle of Sheppey
The A2500 Lower Road, Isle of Sheppey scheme was completed in 2 phases to improve the route between the A249 Sheppey and the East part of the Isle of Sheppey:
- Phase 1 provided a new roundabout at the junction of Lower Road with Barton Hill Drive.
- Phase 2 provided an improvement for the Lower Road arm of Cowstead Corner Roundabout and a 1.1 kilometre section of new shared footway and cycleway.
This scheme was completed in 2020.
Thanet Parkway
We are building a new Thanet Parkway railway station located on the Ashford International to Ramsgate line, and just to the west of the village of Cliffsend. This scheme was completed in 2023.
The Leigh expansion and Hildenborough embankment scheme
We made improvements to the Leigh Flood Storage Area (FSA) and constructed a new flood embankment in Hildenborough. The Environment Agency were responsible for the delivery of this scheme.
M20 Junction 4 Eastern Overbridge Widening, West Malling
M20 Junction 4 Eastern Overbridge Widening, West Malling was widened to provide an extra traffic lane, increasing the road from 2 to 3 lanes. This scheme was completed in 2017.
Tonbridge 20mph zone
Tonbridge 20mph zone scheme delivered a more attractive shopping area for Tonbridge, and involved widening high street pavements, improving street signs and installing a new cycle lane. This scheme was completed in 2016.
West Kent Local Sustainable Transport (cutting congestion)
A package of schemes and initiatives to allow people to transfer between different types of transport, making sustainable transport a real alternative to the private car in Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling. This scheme was completed in 2021.
West Kent Local Sustainable Transport (cutting congestion)
A package of schemes and initiatives to allow people to transfer between different types of transport, making sustainable transport a real alternative to the private car in Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling. This scheme was completed in 2021.
Funded by
The government Growth Deal provides money to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, funding projects which drive Kent’s economic and business growth.
