Flying Start will transform the existing buildings at the former Eastchurch Aerodrome and airfield, which was, until recently, the Prison Farm for HMP Stanford Hill Open Prison, into:

• A living landmark tourist attraction of national and international importance.
  
  
• Skills training workshops to construct replicas of the pioneering aircraft flown on the site.
  
  
• A large indoor venue for local and national events in North Kent, where no such facility exists at present.
  
  
• An innovation and conference centre for networking and inspiring the modern day pioneers in a range of fields.
  
  
• An RSPB education centre, with access to adjacent breeding grounds and SSSIs.
  
  
• A multi-purpose “all weather” venue for sports activities.
  
  
• Cinema and theatre.
  
  
• A community centre providing a range of facilities for community and voluntary groups, etc, and a focal point for local community development.
  
  
•  Learning opportunities for residents in partnership with local schools, further and higher education institutions.
  
  
• Structured skills training and education programmes for the local community and HM Prison Service.

The business plan for Flying Start has been submitted to the BIG Lottery and a decision is expected in October. The Trust has ensured that the early hangars on the site are listed and has negotiated arrangements for acquiring the 22 acre farm site.

An investment of £30m in the delivery of Flying Start is significant but the partners are convinced it will deliver an ongoing and significant boost to the Isle of Sheppey’s economy and secure the maximum benefit from the £100m invested in the new Sheppey Crossing over the river Swale.

The Isle of Sheppey has a long established tourism industry, but in recent years it has suffered decline. Flying Start is all about delivering the growing demand for eco-tourism thanks to the close proximity of RSPB bird reserve and nearby Elmley Marshes, which welcome more than 150,000 visitors each year.

It’s about providing a focus for the community on the Island and in particular improving the provision of leisure facilities as Sheppey currently has no cinema or large theatre.

A community recognised within Thames Gateway as being in need of regeneration, Flying Start will deliver an important direct jobs boost for the Isle of Sheppey. 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.

By highlighting the Island’s significance to the aviation industry Flying Start is already benefiting Sheppey’s economy. Shepherd Neame has invested in the refurbishment of one of the largest public houses on the Island, renaming it ‘The Aviator’, and a hotel operator is currently considering investing locally.

Skills and training are pressing issues for the Isle’s community – and Flying Start has secured the participation of the University of Greenwich at Medway in the partnership.

Ensuring that the local community has a role in the development of Flying Start has lead the partners to consult through a ‘Planning for Real’ programme thanks to the work of the Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation.