This article was updated on 21 February, to highlight the fact the plant is actually ahead of schedule and entering the "final phase" of development

The £140m (€158m) Kent Renewable Energy plant is entering the "final phase" of development with steam blowing underway.

According to a statement the cogeneration plant, which will supply heat and power to the Sandwich-based Discovery Park, is due to be fully operational by the "summer".

Construction work on the plant began in the summer of 2016 by Denmark-based Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC).

The facility is planned to have capacities of 27.8MW of electrcity and up to 25MW heat and will be fired on low-grade wood from "local sustainable forestry operations".