Experts set to help our town and city centres thrive into the future
Ensuring our town and city centres thrive into the future and continue to be a stunning success is behind an important piece of work commissioned by Canterbury City Council.
The council is working with experts We Made That to create town centre strategies for Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable that will be designed to boost investment, growth and regeneration over the longer term.
We Made That will be working hard to gather a wide range of people’s views to help them pull together a list of actions that will complement the draft Local Plan, build on the work being carried out as part of the Levelling Up Fund project and set all three urban centres up for success in the context of local government reorganisation.
Cllr Chris Cornell, Canterbury City Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Inclusion and its Coastal Champion, said: “All three of our town and city centres deserve a clear plan for how the council can plan for their economic success over the long term – a clear vision which outlasts political administrations, that residents support and investors are attracted to so they can bring new jobs to our district.
“This project is evidence that the aspirations we have for Herne Bay and Whitstable are just as large as those we have for Canterbury.
“No town is being left behind and we look forward to working with residents to dream big and come up with plans that match the ambition residents have for where they call home.”
We Made That are specialists in architecture, urban design and research. They will also be teaming up with PRD, experts in socio-economic development and governance.
Holly Lewis, Co-Founding Partner at We Made That, said: “We’re really excited to be working on this project in a fantastic part of the world that has so much going for it.
“We have a proven track record of delivering strategies like these and have used our extensive expertise in Folkestone, Maidstone and Ramsgate.”
Residents, community groups and businesses will be invited to take part in a range of engagement activities including drop-in events, focus groups and digital workshops.
Drop-in events being held this summer include:
- Thursday 21 August: outside The Beaney museum, Canterbury (11.30am to 2.30pm)
- Sunday 31 August: Baytastic, Memorial Park, Herne Bay (11am to 4pm)
- Saturday 13 September: Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival, outside the South Quay Shed (11am to 3pm)
This project is being paid for by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will run through to early 2026.
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries, please contact:
Canterbury City Council:
Leo Whitlock, Head of Policy and Communications – 01227 862 354 or leo.whitlock@canterbury.gov.uk
Robert Davies, Senior Media Manager – 01227 862 050 or robert.davies@canterbury.gov.uk
We Made That:
Sophia Goddard, ING Media – sophia.goddard@ing-media.com or 07801975977
About We Made That:
We Made That is a practice of architects, urban designers and researchers creating equitable places through incisive research and impactful projects.
They work exclusively for the public sector and charities and are committed to delivering public good.
We Made That was established in 2006 and became a Certified B Corporation in 2021.
It delivers projects across the UK from offices in London and Manchester.
Published: 18 August 2025