Kent County Council submits bid for government Structures Fund cash towards £46m repair of A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe
A bid for up to £46 million of government funding to finally fix and reopen a major road shut for the last three years has been submitted by Kent County Council (KCC).
A huge chunk of the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe fell away in April 2023 when a chalk cliff collapsed, plunging the lives of people living in the area into “chaos”.
The process to repair the road has been long and involved, not least in establishing who owns what part of the cliff and assessing the extent of the damage and whether it could be fixed.
But there are now possible options on the table - to either rebuild and reinforce the cliff or build a bridge across it. And at long last the means to fund it could be in sight.
On April 15, the government announced it would be backing councils across the country to fix vital infrastructure including bridges, flyovers and tunnels through its new Structures Fund.
The fund will put money directly into the hands of local authorities, enabling them to tackle the most pressing cases they cannot afford to fix alone.
Two weeks later, KCC has announced it has submitted a bid for the funding.
It is asking for between £40.6m and £46.3m from the Structures Fund to deliver the project and restore the route.
KCC’s cabinet member for highways and transport Cllr Peter Osborne (Reform) said: “We know how important these roads are to the people who use them every day – whether that’s getting to work, running a business or staying connected with family and friends.
“This funding would help us fix long‑standing problems, prevent future closures and give local communities the confidence that these routes are safe and reliable for the long term.
“We have made a strong case for the funding and I hope the government sees just how important this is for communities in Kent.”
When the funding was first announced, Dartford MP Jim Dickson welcomed the news and urged KCC not to “waste this opportunity”.
He said at the time: “Swanscombe has been left in chaos for too long.
“I have heard countless stories of children struggling to get to school, businesses facing closure and constant road congestion.
“Getting Galley Hill fixed is a top priority for me and I won’t let up until it is sorted. I am with the Swanscombe community 100% on this.”
The Labour MP said the launch of the Structures Fund was inspired by the then Transport Minister visiting Galley Hill with him in September 2024 and seeing first hand the major impact the cliff collapse had on residents and businesses.
To help councils put forward the strongest possible proposals, the government has appointed consultants to provide free guidance and hands-on support to all applicants.
Councils have been encouraged to submit draft applications by June 19 for early feedback, giving them the opportunity to strengthen proposals before the final deadline of August 3.
Funding decisions will be announced this autumn, with all successful schemes required to complete works by March 2030.
It is the most significant investment in local infrastructure in a generation.