Thanet District Council launches search for an operator for the Green Campus in Ramsgate

Thanet District Council has launched the search for an operator for the Green Campus scheme, which is part of Ramsgate’s Levelling Up Fund programme. The government awarded Ramsgate £19.8m of funding for the programme in October 2021. 

The Green Campus scheme is part of a suite of projects aimed at continuing the diversification of operations at the Port of Ramsgate; creating employment and training opportunities and improving the town centre. All of the projects in the Ramsgate Levelling Up Fund programme focus on local job creation, sustainability and heritage preservation.

The Green Campus will be located at a site within the Port, making the most of Ramsgate’s maritime heritage, skills and location. It will include a mix of training facilities and workspaces, for both small and established businesses, with opportunities for expansion in the future.

The council now wants to test the market by engaging with potential operators. This will help inform the proposed operating model and procurement exercise. 

The council would like to hear from:

• Organisations who currently operate workspaces, or are keen to do so
• Smaller organisations and/or individuals who are interested in forming a new organisation to operate a workspace

Interested organisations are invited to complete a questionnaire that will inform the council’s understanding of the market. The aim is to understand whether this opportunity is of interest to relevant and experienced operators. Details of how to register can be found on the council’s website. The deadline for completing the questionnaire is Wednesday 17 January 2023. At this stage this is a market-testing exercise, not a call for competition.

Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, said: “The Green Campus project will help us to maximise the potential of the Port of Ramsgate. It will attract new businesses to locate to the Port, creating much needed employment and training opportunities, with a maritime focus. 

“I am very pleased that we are now able to move to the next phase of the project, and look forward to seeing the results of the operator survey.”

Jan Kattein Architects developed initial design ideas for the Green Campus, which can be reviewed on the council’s website. Members of the public were invited to view the plans and give their feedback at an event which took place on Tuesday 18 July 2023. 

Find out more about the Levelling Up Fund programme on the council’s website. Residents are invited to stay informed about progress on the Levelling Up Fund programme by signing up to the dedicated mailing list.