The Stage

Sea Change funding sparks Margate Dreamland redevelopment

Published Tuesday 24 November 2009 at 14:20 by Matthew Hemley

A multi-million pound redevelopment of Margate’s Dreamland leisure park - which organisers say will have festivals and live performances at its heart - is to proceed after receiving a major financial boost from the government.

The project, which will see Dreamland reopened as an amusement park featuring historic rides, is being led by the Dreamland Trust. It has received £3.7 million from the government’s Sea Change programme, which is designed to invigorate seaside towns through investment in culture and heritage.

Dreamland Trust chairman Nick Laister said the Sea Change money had been vital in ensuring the plans were realised.

He said other money had been promised to the scheme - including from Thanet District Council and the Lottery - but this had been dependent on the scheme winning its bid for the Sea Change funding.

“Sea Change is the catalyst that will bring the project forward and means we can confidently say it is going to happen,” he said.

Laister said the project now had around £12 million of the £12.4 million needed to carry out plans for the new Dreamland.

These include the restoration of the Dreamland Cinema façade and the ground floor entrance to the amusement park.

Further plans, which will require additional funding, include the restoration of the cinema as a live performance venue, to include seating for 1,500 people.

Laister said the cinema would be able to house live entertainment connected with the park itself, but also host touring artists.

In addition, there are plans for the theme park to host a series of festivals and live performances, including street theatre, which Laister said would be “central to the process”.

Laister added that the trust, which is working in partnership with the council, the Margate Renewal Partnership and the site’s owners to carry out the project, would soon be employing an audience development officer to help form plans for performances on the site.

Meanwhile, Wyre Borough Council has been awarded £835,000 from the Sea Change programme to help develop a performance and recreation space in the Marine Hall, Fleetwood.