Medway: Multi-million pound innovation park paused

The innovation park was earmarked to be built near Rochester Airport

Plans for the development of a multi-million pound innovation park in Kent have been paused by a council.

The original plan by Medway Council was to attract technology, engineering and manufacturing firms to a campus next to Rochester Airport.

But now the authority has decided to halt the plans for the site and conduct a review of other options instead.

A report to cabinet said changes to the way firms run post-Covid were key to its reconsideration of the scheme.

Councillor Lauren Edwards, Labour portfolio holder for economic and social regeneration and inward investment, said: "The optimistic 'build it and they will come' approach of the last administration hasn't worked.

"Businesses haven't come in the way they needed to, and where a couple have been interested it's been on the basis the council takes on risk, financial and operational, we aren't able to support in the current climate of local government finance."

So far, £11.6 million has been spent on the project.

Labour councillor Tristan Osborne said money for the review, expected to cost £200,000, was already in the existing budget for the scheme.

The council said rising construction costs, higher interest rates and the pandemic were among other factors influencing its decision to pause the plans.

'It hasn't worked'

Mr Osborne told BBC Radio Kent: "We've inherited a situation where we've come in, we've looked at this project, it hasn't delivered, it hasn't worked."

Mr Osborne said the review would look at the different options for the site, be that related to health, parks or other services.

Former council leader Alan Jarrett, who started the project, said it was "well thought through".

He explained the project was intended to "ensure the longevity of Rochester airport" and create more local jobs.

However, Mr Osborne said only two tenants were interested in the site and there was not a "business case anymore".

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