Being Optimistic In These Unprecedented Times.

You’ve gotta love an optimist in these unprecedented times. One such optimist is East Kent Spatial Development Company (EKSDC), – a company you’ve probably never heard of, who is optimistically making preparations to help businesses bounce back after the coronavirus pandemic.

EKSDC is an East Kent local authority owned investment vehicle.

It members are:

• Canterbury City Council

• Dover District Council

• Folkestone & Hythe District Council

• Kent County Council

• Locate In Kent

• Thanet District Council

• University of Kent

EKSDC does not have its own website, nor does it publish agendas or minutes of any meetings its holds.

That said, on the 25th Sept 2019 EKSDC acquired the leasehold of 16 Bouverie Place (pictured), Folkestone, Kent for £350,000, according to land registry documents.  EKSDC applied for funding for the refurbishment of 16 Bouverie Place, to the Folkestone Community Works CLLD programme.

On the 18th Dec GPM2 Design announced it had been appointed to provide architecture and project management services for the conversion of 16 Bouverie Place for a new Innovation Centre for EKSDC

On the 06 Mar 2020 a tender notice by Folkestone & Hythe District Council advertised and tendered on behalf of East Kent Spatial Development Company, went live for the sum of £900,000. The £900K is for altering the existing five storey building to form managed office space including partial demolition/removal of walls, removal and renewal of all mechanical and electrical plant and equipment. The project is anticipated to begin 1 May 2020 and continue for 26-28 weeks with completion for first tenants expected late Autumn 2020. 

Now there are those who believe they’ll be more company bankruptcies than deaths from coronavirus. And EKSDC will be there to exploit a market once the dust has settled. However, many similar spaces will become empty due to businesses going under during the coronavirus crisis. As such, this will create a glut of such spaces for new start up companies to move into, but EKSDC will be well placed to exploit this market.

If your self employed you can find covid-19 information about claiming a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits ⇒ here

For COVID-19: support for businesses see ⇒ here

The Shepwayvox Team

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