The Thames Gateway

What?

• An initiative to help integrate culture into the regeneration and growth of Thames Gateway North Kent, which includes a Framework and Toolkit called Sustainable Culture, Sustainable Communities, designed for cultural agencies, local authorities, developers and local groups operating in TGNK
• The initiative is aimed at developing access to a range of cultural activities and opportunities in the Thames Gateway. It has two targets:
  • The Framework is aimed at strategic planners to ensure that culture is embedded in regeneration and development. It was intended to prevent sterile single-use developments of housing, retail or offices and create good communities
  • The Toolkit is aimed at project promoters to help them deliver successful projects
• As well as summarising the existing cultural offer in the area, the Toolkit includes inspiring case studies such as the Aspex Gallery in Portsmouth, which is located in a converted storehouse on Gunwharf Quays; and Chatham Historic Dockyard, a key heritage site which is now used for leisure, housing and businesses
• The Toolkit includes a section called ‘The Life-Cycle of a Cultural Project,’ which provides a useful timeline for projects; a checklist; a section on planning summarising planning policy statements and a contact section of available support

When?

• The document was published in 2006

How?

• The Framework and Toolkit were created by a unique collaboration between the South East Cultural Agencies; the Department for Communities and Local Government; the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; Local Authorities; Local Regeneration Partnerships; SEEDA; the Regional Assembly; GOSE; National Lottery distributing bodies; and others
• The Framework and Toolkit is hosted online at www.seco.org.uk, the South East Cultural Observatory, and is regularly updated

Summary

• The Toolkit has raised awareness of the role culture can play in regeneration and development in the Thames Gateway North Kent. Most developments are now mixed-use and include cultural elements
• Having initially found low take-up of the Toolkit, a ‘hands-on’ introduction was developed and taken personally to cultural partnerships, individual planning officers and developers, and to workshops and a special event at the Thames Gateway Forum. Guidance was provided on preparing cultural strategies and incorporating culture into LDFs to sit alongside the Framework and Toolkit and this combination has proved useful
• The four TGNK councils are now preparing or about to prepare cultural strategies and are integrating culture to their LDFs, quoting the Toolkit and Framework as evidence
• The Framework and Toolkit has formed the basis for the cultural strategy at Swale and at Gravesham and will be presented to the new officer at Medway
• Roll out continues via individuals and groups
• The document is also proving useful in Urban South Hampshire (another deprived growth area) as a good example