Flying Start Wings into Shortlist

Flying Start, Swale’s bid to celebrate the pioneering spirit of the founding fathers of aviation with the creation of an iconic building on the Isle of Sheppey, is still in the running to secure a multi-million pound award from the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks programme.

The news has been warmly welcomed by Flying Start’s project’s partners, led by Sheppey Heritage Trust and including Swale Borough Council, Swale Forward and HM Prison Service.

A delegation from the Big Lottery Fund will visit Eastchurch, the site of the world’s first aircraft production factory and former home to many of the most important pioneering aviators, to meet the team behind the £30m Flying Start project, to hear their final presentation putting the case for a £25m grant from the Living Landmarks programme.

Should the bid get the green light from the Big Lottery Fund, the partners will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first flight by a Britain in a British built aeroplane, in 2009 ¬– with Flying Start fully open in 2011.

Bill Croydon, Secretary of Sheppey Heritage Trust and driving force behind the Flying Start proposals, said: “To make it this far is a major achievement, now we just need to prove why Flying Start’s national importance and what it will mean to the communities within Swale and the Thames Gateway and secure the £25m on offer from the Big Lottery Fund.”

Stuart Martin, of award winning architects Walker and Martin, is leading Flying Start’s design and commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. The building has adopted a comprehensive ‘greening’ strategy including wind turbines, solar and geothermal energy, as well as rainwater recycling.

The project will also make full use of a local workforce to help construct and maintain the centre, providing much needed jobs and skills training.

A final decision by the Big Lottery Fund on which projects have won the Living Landmark category is expected in November.