Sheerness Revival update

Plans to improve the health and leisure on the Isle of Sheppey are set to be decided next month.

Swale Borough Council has ambitious plans for a significant redevelopment of the Sheppey Leisure Complex as part of their £20 million Sheerness Revival project, funded by the UK Government.

The council’s planning committee are set to decide on the application at a meeting on 16 January 2025.

The plans include a refurbishment, expansion and modernization of the GP facilities, the creation of a dedicated space for local charity Sheppey Matters, and upgrades to the gym and leisure facilities.

Temporary relocation plans for the GP practice, gym and Sheppey Matters are in place to limit the disruption to users of these services.

GP practice relocation

The Minster Medical Group’s surgery at the Sheppey Healthy Living Centre will be closed from 5pm on Friday, 20 December 2024.

They will be temporarily relocating to their other location, Minster Medical Centre, at the Sheppey Community Hospital.

Patients can continue to access GP services by calling the practice in the normal way via their telephone number 01795 877714, and appointments will take place at the Minster Medical Centre, Plover Road ME12 3LT.

The GP practice will keep patients updated and have contacted vulnerable patients individually to make sure they can continue accessing their health care services.

The council’s plan for the practice at Beachfields, if approved, include reconfiguring, expanding, and modernising the current facilities for patients and staff, and will move the surgery to the ground floor to improve access to this important healthcare provision.

Sheppey Matters relocation

Local health and wellbeing charity, Sheppey Matters, will be temporarily relocating in January from their base in Beachfields to three new sites.

From 13 January Sheppey Matters will be providing their food and uniform provisions from Neptune House, their office operations will be from Sheppey Gateway, and they will be providing drop-in sessions from a shop at 31 Broadway, Sheerness, ME12 1AB. Other services will continue take place at the Eastchurch Community Health Hub.

For more information, please call 01795 585335 or email office@sheppeymatters.org.uk.

The charity is making this temporary move so the council’s planned works at Beachfields can begin if approved, which includes the creation of three large community rooms for events, a waiting room, multiple office spaces, and a kitchen, all designed specifically to meet the charities’ needs.

Sheppey Matters has projects tackling loneliness, provides free meals, offers support clubs, educates and supports people with ADHD and autism and much more, making it an important community hub.

Gym and leisure relocation

The gym will be temporarily relocating to one half of the sports hall within the Sheppey Leisure Complex.

The hall will be closed from January 6, 2025, so the gym equipment can be relocated, and will reopen as a temporary gym space on February 14, 2025, with the other half of the sports hall opening back up to community sports activities.

The gym is making these temporary arrangements so that the council can implement their plans for Beachfields, which will refurbish and expand the existing gym facilities if the planning application is approved.

This includes the creation of a larger fitness suite, free weights area, spin studio, and a new café.

The current sports hall would also be reduced to two courts to make way for a new soft play area and tag active - a fun modern activity for kids (and grown-ups!) to get exercise while traversing an obstacle course.

An outdoor gym is also planned for the site giving people free access to workout equipment, promoting healthy and active lifestyles on the island.

A new heritage-themed adventure golf course and improved site accessibility are also planned.

This project is one of three initiatives under the Sheerness Revival project which aims to improve the health, employment, education and leisure in Sheerness.

Planning applications for the Sheppey College extension and additional business units at Masters House have already been approved with works set to begin next year.

Cllr Monique Bonney, Chair of the Regeneration and Property Committee, said:

“As we approach a decision on our planning application, we are getting ready to begin work immediately if it’s approved.

“There will inevitably be some disruption to services during the works, and we’re sorry to anyone affected, but we’re doing everything we can to minimise the impact on centre users and residents in the area, and plans are in place to temporarily relocate the gym, GP services, and Sheppey Matters.

“Our health partners understandably felt that the normal Christmas office closure was an appropriate time to begin preparation work, as patients are used to accessing services from the Minster site from this time.

“We're confident that any short-term inconvenience will be more than outweighed by the positive impact Sheerness Revival will have on the lives of everyone in Sheerness.”

Dave Harcourt, Chief Executive Officer of Swale Community Leisure, said:

"It is great to be involved in this project which will make a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of the people of Sheppey, and to see that it is close to starting to commence if the planning application is approved in January.

"Like all improvements, there will be some disruption, but I am sure that all our customers will join me in welcoming the proposed changes and look forward to a much-improved future."

Nigel Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Sheppey Matters, said:

“The charity is thrilled to be a partner in the Sheerness Revival project and is eagerly looking forward to welcoming residents back to the healthy living centre in 2026, if planning approval is given, and sharing the new and redesigned rooms and space with our partner groups, agencies, and beneficiaries.

“During the planned refurbishment Sheppey Matters will continue to deliver its important services to the Sheppey community, albeit in different venues.”

Sukh Singh, Director of Primary Care for NHS Kent and Medway, said:

“NHS Kent and Medway welcome the plan to relocate and modernise the GP surgery facilities and provide improved access for patients as part of the redevelopment of Sheppey Health Living Centre.

“We are supporting the GP practice in minimising the impact of this temporary relocation on patients.”

If the plans are approved, the council are working to complete the redevelopment by April 2026.

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