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Dockyard leads regeneration

The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (CHDT) celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2009 and has become a significant catalyst in the regeneration of the Medway region.

In 1984 the Royal Naval Dockyard closed with the loss of thousands of jobs and the pay packets that went with them. The Trust has been successful in developing the decommissioned dockyard into a thriving business enterprise. It not only houses a variety of museum, galleries and ships- dedicated to preserving the special nature of the place and educating visitors - but also has a number of residential and commercial properties.

The objective of the preservation and re-use of the site was to develop the Historic Dockyard within its historical context and maintain its unique architectural character through appropriate re-use of the site’s land, buildings and scheduled ancient monuments. This strategy has already created a mixed community for people to live and work in.

The Dockyard is a major contributor to income generation in the Kent and Medway region. With up to 150,000 visitors annually, the knock-on effect of their visits contributes significantly to the local economy.

Income generated from the properties is returned to the Trust, ensuring a sustainable and diverse income stream. The Trust also gains revenue from use of the Dockyard as a location for filming. In 2008, £90k was secured for the Trust through film activities.

Volunteers as partners

The services of many previous dock workers have been maintained through a strong volunteering programme. The museum operates a volunteer policy which is managed by a Volunteer Coordinator, a position which is funded by Renaissance in the Regions. By working in this manner the Dockyard is preserving and sharing local knowledge for future generations and maintaining community pride.

As Chief Executive of the Trust, Bill Ferris states, “Volunteering is not a one way street. What matters to the volunteers is not only their “work” contribution but also a social element. The Dockyard has to facilitate all that and treat volunteers as partners.”

Partnerships are key to the Dockyard’s continued success as a popular destination for local people and tourists alike. The Dockyard has been working with two National Museums, the National Maritime Museum and the Imperial War Museum, on a project known as 'National Museums at Chatham'

World Heritage

Another exciting new development resulting from partnership working is that Chatham Dockyard and its defences are on the UK Government's shortlist of potential World Heritage Sites - Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, English Heritage, Medway Council and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) are financing and backing the World Heritage Site application.

Attracting visitors to cultural destinations in Medway can be challenging due to its location in the shadow of London. However the opportunities presented by the advent of Thames Gateway Kent and the London Olympics in 2012 will enable the Trust to continue working with Medway Council and the local community to ensure that Medway becomes widely recognised as the Thames Gateway’s City of Culture, Education, Tourism and Enterprise.

Former Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Andy Burnham MP enthused, "The Dockyard is a fascinating place - full of history, variety and a hive of activity. With heritage, tourism, creative industries, museums and film making all on site, it is the DCMS world rolled into one!"

For more information on this case study visit the case study section of the MLA research website.