Community centre reopens after £7.5m refurbishment

Not all services moved in to the Dover Discovery Centre on Monday

A community centre has reopened following a £7.5m refurbishment as it brings a number of services, including a local library, under one roof.

Services were due to start moving into the Dover Discover Centre on Monday, bringing together the town's registration services, adult education, and children's early help and social care.

The centre has been redesigned to provide a more modern, accessible and welcoming environment for the community.

Kevin Mills, leader of Dover District Council (DDC), said: "These improvements will strengthen our commitment to learning, engagement and heritage and we're excited to work together with partners, groups and residents to bring these opportunities to life."

The transformation is part of a two-year Kent County Council (KCC) led project, working with DDC to create a community hub for the town's residents, supporting the regeneration of Dover town centre and making public services easier to access in one central location.

The refurbishment of the Discovery Centre represents more than £7m of direct investment by KCC and more than £500,000 by DDC.

As well as improving public access to KCC and partner services, the project has addressed several building condition issues, ensuring the centre is fit for purpose and future-proofed.

The temporary library at Dover Gateway closed on 11 October to allow staff time to move into the Discovery Centre.