Chatham: Plans approved for creative digital hub

The Docking Station will be built inside the Historic Dockyard Chatham by late 2025

Plans for a hub for digital creative industries in Kent have been approved.

Medway Council has approved the proposals for the University of Kent's Docking Station which will be based inside the Historic Dockyard Chatham.

The project will see the Grade II-listed Police Section House converted, and a new building constructed.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham stands on the site of one of the UK's largest Royal Navy dockyards which closed 40 years ago.

It is one of Kent's largest tourist attractions, but also home to businesses and university students.

A University of Kent spokesperson said Docking Station is "a key part of regeneration plans for the historic waterside site".

'Explore new technologies'

The facility will house a suite of commercial digital production studios for industry use, a café, gallery and exhibition spaces, along with teaching areas and facilities to support digital and creative start-ups and local creative industries.

It has been developed through a partnership between the university, Medway Council and Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.

Professor Catherine Richardson, from the University of Kent, said: "Docking Station will provide new ways for young people to gain digital skills, create rewarding jobs in high-value creative and cultural sectors and be a space for the university, community and industry to come together to explore new technologies."

Construction is planned to start in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025.