Work begins on Docking Station – Medway’s new digital future.

Senior representatives from University of Kent, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Medway Council came together this week to celebrate the start of construction for Docking Station.

Over the next 18 months the project will see the Police Section House, a Grade II listed Scheduled Ancient Monument at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, transformed into a cutting-edge creative production facility. Along with the construction of a new studio building, commencing later in the year, Docking Station will be home to a range of state-of-the-art facilities aimed to nurture creativity and innovation. Docking Station will be a driver for the development of immersive technologies in the South-East and drive growth in the Creative Industries, one of the priority sectors in the UK economy and a key part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The site will include a café, exhibition and workshop spaces, co-working and incubator spaces for University of Kent graduates and small creative businesses, as well as workspaces for staff, a teaching lab, and a post-production/editing studio. The new studio building will feature a large soundstage, and multiple smaller spaces equipped for high tech creative technology and filmmaking practices.

These facilities will make cutting edge technologies available to Film, Advertising and Gaming sector as well as a host of other industries utilising these creative digital technologies screen industries enterprises and creatives in Medway, the South-East region and beyond thanks to its great location making it easily accessible from London.

David Sefton, Director of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries at University of Kent says: ‘Docking Station will be a unique hub, equipped with industry-standard production technologies, including virtual production and motion capture. This dynamic facility will enable local businesses, students, and the broader community to develop new skills in immersive technologies. It will also strengthen the thriving digital creative industries in Medway and the wider region as well as cementing the University of Kent’s commitment to Medway. For Medway businesses, residents and students this will mean opportunities for education and training in these exciting new technologies, and the creation of new jobs in the area.’

Looking to the future of the regions, children from the Busy Bees nursery, adjacent to the Docking Station site, also attended the event. Toni, Centre Director for Busy Bees said: ‘Being right next door, we’ve watched this incredible transformation unfold, and it’s been amazing to invest our time and energy into something so special. We can’t wait to see the finished space and be a part of its legacy. Most importantly, involving our children and families in this journey makes it even more meaningful—teaching them the value of heritage, progress, and community.’

Docking Station is a project of the Institute of Culture & Creative Industries at the University of Kent in collaboration with Medway Council and The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.

Cllr Nina Gurung. Portfolio Holder for Heritage Culture and Leisure at Medway Council says: ‘We are delighted that the ground-breaking for the Docking Station brings us one step closer to the great range of wonderful opportunities this exciting project will bring to Medway’s young people and residents. We believe in honing and retaining local talent and this is a splendid opportunity to bring forward the investment needed to provide access to some exciting education, skills and career pathways in the creative digital industries, one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK.  It will also broaden the opportunity for all Medway residents to participate in cultural and creative activities. The Docking Station project has been a fantastic example of excellent partnership working between the University of Kent’s ICCI, The Historic Dockyard Chatham and Medway Council building on the One Medway Charter signed by us all in 2023 and advances our shared ambitions.’

Richard Morsley, CEO of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust says: ‘The start of work on Docking Station marks a significant milestone and will further enhance the vibrant cultural cluster located around The Historic Dockyard.  Docking Station reinforces our commitment to preservation through re-use, and is a powerful example of how we combine preservation with innovation, ensuring The Historic Dockyard is safeguarded for future generations.’

This project is funded by the UK Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and The Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust.

Find out more at  https://www.kent.ac.uk/institute-cultural-creative-industries/dockingstation