Planning Decision on Cinema Site Formally Issued
At the beginning of January the Section 106 agreement, a legal document
between the Council and developer, was signed for the former cinema site
in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells. The formal planning consent was
then issued bringing the work on site a step closer.
More: view the concept designs and press
release in full
More: read the jury report and view
the other designs
About the RIBA Design Competition
Six architects practices were invited to prepare concept proposals for the design of the former cinema site in Royal Tunbridge Wells. This is a key site in the town, which has been empty since 2000.
The aim has been to achieve a quality development that will significantly enhance the conservation area and sit happily in the pattern of existing development but one that will also provide a benchmark for the future regeneration of Royal Tunbridge Wells.
The sponsors of the single-stage, invited competition have sought to achieve an inspirational, high quality, mixed use development on the site, which covers 0.54 hectares on the junction of Mount Pleasant Road and Church Road, in the Conservation Area of Royal Tunbridge Wells.
The competition has been run by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of Lordland International, the specialist development management company that represents the new owner of the cinema site, in association with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
The selection of practices taking part in the competition was made by RIBA South East, with the assistance of the Jury Panel members and of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Robert Adam of Robert Adam Architects, who is renowned as a classicist, urban designer and scholar, chaired the Jury Panel.