NEWINGTON PLANS REMAIN ON TRACK

Plans to redevelop part of Newington remain on track, despite news that one of the partners has pulled out of the project. That’s the message from Thanet District Council.

Town and Country Housing Association have withdrawn from the project, which was started by the council. The current proposals are to demolish the Centre and replace it with a mixed scheme of new houses of various sizes and six flats, which meet the needs of the community.

Funding for phase one of the project is in place from the Homes and Communities Agency, provided that discussions with the council’s new partner, Orbit South, are finalised by the end of March 2011. The first phase will see 21 houses and a new building for commercial premises with six flats above. It will also include road improvements, which will see the roundabout at the Centre being removed.

The council’s Director of Community Services, Madeline Homer, said: “We’re extremely disappointed that Town and Country Housing have decided that they’re unable to deliver this scheme. That’s not an option for either the council or the residents of the Centre at Newington, who have been moved from their homes over the last year. We need to work hard to make this happen and that’s exactly what we’re doing with Orbit South. We’re already in legal discussions with them and we’re doing everything we can to ensure that those discussions are successful and that this project happens for the people of Newington.”

Once details have been confirmed of any agreement with Orbit South on the Newington development, these will be announced by the council. It is hoped that work on the project will start later this year.