Explore Ramsgate and its regeneration projects in 3D with a new virtual reality tour created for Thanet council.
Participants can jump into the virtual reality hovercraft and zip around the town, harbour and port and Newington for a look at the scheme designs for Broad Street, Ramsgate Harbour, the Clock House, Green Campus and Newington Community Centre.
The immersive journey lasts for approximately ten minutes and will give people a chance to explore the proposed designs for each location. As part of the journey there will be the opportunity to give feedback on potential activities at each site.
The free virtual reality experience via VR headsets is happening at Discovery Planet, 47 High Street, Ramsgate.
People are encouraged to book timed slots in advance via Eventbrite. Drop-ins are also welcome.
The event takes place on Friday 22 November, 1pm to 6pm and Saturday 23 November, 11am to 4pm.
A short trailer has been produced, which gives a flavour of the virtual reality experience.
Timeslots can be booked on the council’s website, where there is also a link to the virtual reality trailer.
In addition to the headsets, the virtual reality tour can also be experienced via an interactive touch-screen table and a video-game style console. Boards showing the designs for each of the Levelling Up Fund projects will also be on display. A special event for children and young people will be held at Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School.
The latest event follows public exhibitions in July 2023 and May 2024, where people viewed proposals and gave their feedback on designs for a number of projects taking place under the Levelling Up Fund. The feedback received at both events was reviewed and has helped to shape the final designs.
Planning applications for Broad Street, Newington Community Centre and the Green Campus have been submitted. The Clock House and Pier Yard developments are in the pre-planning stage.
Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, said: “This is a truly innovative way to bring Ramsgate’s Levelling Up Fund projects to life. The virtual reality tour showcases the designs for each of the sites, and will give a real flavour of the exciting projects planned for the town, as we move closer to delivering them. There will be an opportunity to tell us about the kind of activities that would appeal to you, at each site.
“I’m sure that the new technology on offer will appeal to a wide range of local people, especially our younger residents and people who have not yet seen the designs first hand.”
Digital Urban was appointed to create a virtual reality experience and tour is funded through the government’s PropTech Round 4 which promotes digital citizen engagement.
Thanet District Council was awarded £19.8million for Ramsgate in October 2021, through the government’s Levelling Up Fund. The Levelling Up funding is supporting projects to create a Green Campus, Green Port, a new town square in Ramsgate Harbour, new uses for heritage buildings, and community hubs in Newington and Ramsgate town centre.
Green Campus and Port
The proposal for a ‘green campus’ is for training, enterprise and light industry.
Some £6.1m is earmarked for the Military Road campus, built partially by the council and partially by the private sector. The aim is for the site to provide training, education and business opportunities for the marine and maritime sector.
Project bosses want the buildings to be ‘eco-friendly’, running completely on electricity rather than gas, with electric vehicle charging points as well as parking spots for bikes.
According to the development brief, the campus would consist of three blocks, labelled Blocks A, B and C, with TDC constructing A and C, while a developer or tenant would take on B.
TDC is planning to build the two blocks of the campus between January 2025 and March 2026, while the developer will be expected to develop its section by March 2027.
The Port Infrastructure project includes the refurbishment of berths 2 and 3, and land based works needed to support ro-ro ferry operations, including facilities for UK Border Force.
Levelling Up funding of £4.12m to be moved from Sailors’ Church and fishing fleet projects to Ramsgate Port infrastructure scheme
Ramsgate Clock House
The refurbishment of the Ramsgate Clock House was included as part of the original Ramsgate Levelling Up Fund submission. The scheme aims to refurbish the Grade II* Listed structure, creating a heritage centre for the town and a new café.
The original project was based on a successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid. As this was ultimately unsuccessful, the scheme has undergone a number of changes for the available budget of £1,785,000. This included removing plans for a restaurant but there will be a café.
The council is working towards the development of the operating model for the future running of the Heritage Hub.
A planning application is due to be submitted in December 2024. It will include a café to the side of the Clock House. The ambition is for it to support the sustainability of the Heritage Hub, by providing a small income for the maintenance of the building.
Ramsgate Pier Yard and Highways works
The Pier Yard scheme was part of the original Ramsgate Levelling Up Fund submission and the Highways works was part of the Future High Street Fund bid.
The two schemes have been combined to benefit from one construction contractor and programme. This allows the council to make the most of the funding available.
In the Pier Yard car park, the scheme aims to remove the parking and create a public square.
The aim of the highway works is to improve the roundabout and crossing points along Harbour Parade, Military Road and Royal Parade and improve connectivity between the town centre and harbour areas.
The Planning Application and S278 Agreements needed to deliver the scheme through Kent County Council are targeted for approval/completion by May 2025. The total budget is £2,955,264.
Newington Community Centre
The Newington Community Hub will provide improved facilities with an extension to house a larger kitchen and a community garden. The new kitchen will allow the Newington Community Association to expand its popular food and cookery programme.
There will also be new double glazed windows, upgrades to electric fittings and thermal upgrades such as new internal roof and wall insulation, a new sustainable heating system and ventilation improvements.
The new, single storey teaching kitchen is designed to host up to 24 children or 16 adults at any one time. During fair weather activity will spill into the courtyard garden.
The training kitchen and space for people seeking job and training opportunities will be headed up by community chef Mike Spackman who works with Newington Community Association to share food, cooking and health skills with residents.
Broad Street
The 5a Broad Street property – the former haberdashery shop- will be refurbished to provide workspace in Ramsgate town centre that is tailored for creative and third sector businesses. The facility will also be home to a new skills and careers hub.
It would seem the new port infrastructure is to benefit Brett’s and the astonishing amount of aggregate needed to build National Grid PLC’s illegal wildlife busting massive converter station and mega pylons at Minster Marshes. Four years of road checking and construction madness.
A ferry? Just like failing Grayling’s dream.
People, local and visitors alike come to experience our historic harbour and concomitant architectural buildings.
The Port has been subsidised by the hard pressed council tax payers for years.
Stop this irresponsible madness, and waste of funding.
In what way is the converter station illegal?
I sorry to find myself agreeing. The port is not viable for ferries of anytype and hasn’t been since the Channel Tunnel days. Ask the senior former employees of TransEuropa, the ferry which came in for a while after Sally Line. Many if them still live in Thanet. The issue is simply 2 things….. 1 the fuel cost is double that from Dover to Calais and 2 The channel has to be dredged regularly for a ferry to operate and the dredger was sold.
Great news. All we need now is a busy passenger airport.
Get us some DOGE right now
Venice hasn’t had a doge since the late 18th century.
Some £6.1m is earmarked for the Military Road campus, built partially by the council and partially by the private sector. The aim is for the site to provide training, education and business opportunities for the marine and maritime sector.
The skill set needed locally is for suitable trained people for the crewing of crew farm maintenance vessels, the PLA pilot boats and the local inshore fisheries. TDC have sadly let down the local fishermen for many years, hopefully this scheme will be positive for Ramsgate.
Until thanet starts to live in the here and now it will only keep going down hill.
We don’t need an airport that’s not needed. We don’t need a port that not needed.
Manston would be great to get the British Disneyland built on it. Along with other projects.
The port would be great to have cafes, bars etc and than join it up with the town.
We were told the only hold up to Manston were the court hearings etc. Well RPS there is nothing stopping you going full steam ahead.
I’ve read that next year there is going to be an airshow at Manston. But haven’t read anywhere of when the 800million revamp is starting.
Whilst a lot of the plans are lovely ideas, are they financially viable? The old habadasher for instance is proposing something similar to what was planned for above the Modern Boulangerie and that has now gone and none of the units above were let I believe.
Its easy to spend other peoples money and then fail as with the motor museum.