Planning decision on Cinema Site formally issued
6 January 2009 - Following last years design competition for the former cinema site, the developer appointed the winning architects together with a range of other consultants, to work up the scheme in more detail.
This week saw the formal issuing of the planning consent following the signing of a Section 106 legal agreement with the Council. This will achieve other benefits to the town as part of the redevelopment of the site. They include public art, space within the scheme for displays from the museum as well as financial contributions towards highway improvements and air quality measures.
The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's Western Area Planning Committee approved
this major planning application in principle on 12 November 2008, subject
to a total of 44 conditions and to the signing of the Section 106 agreement.
At the time Cllr. Roy Bullock, Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council,
said:
'The decision of Western Area Planning Committee today to approve the application,
subject to the signing of a Section 106 agreement, for the redevelopment
of the Cinema site is excellent news. At long last, despite some local concerns,
this major "Grot Spot" will over the next few years disappear
from the horizon and the Town Centre will be vastly improved by this RIBA
competition winning architect's team.
'Of course, these are difficult economic circumstances and we hope there
will not be a delay to the commencement of demolition and new build on this
site which has been derelict for far too long.
'I would like to express my thanks to the applicant, Architect and the planning
officers of the Council for the excellent work that they have put in to
preparing this application and for the standard of presentation made today
at the Western Area Planning Committee. It is a truly historic day for Royal
Tunbridge Wells and all of us should celebrate this first stage success'
Details of the application can be viewed here
Winner Announced!
28 February 2008 - Panter Hudspith Architects’ entry has been chosen as the winner by the Jury panel, in the competition to provide concept designs for the site of the former cinema in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells.
View to new Public Square on Mount Pleasant Road
Streetscape with colonnade looking up Mount Pleasant Road
The Jury was chaired by Robert Adam of Robert Adam Architects, the renowned classicist, urban designer and scholar. Robert Adam said of the winning entry: ’This is a nicely-controlled, restrained scheme of excellent quality. Although all the entries were exciting, we were unanimous in selecting this design as the best way forward for Tunbridge Wells.’
Sean Albuquerque, Chairman of RIBA South East Region, said of the competition: ‘RIBA South East was delighted to have helped to select the right architect for this prominent and challenging site. This method of selection is an efficient and effective way to raise design quality. Both the developer and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council should be heartily congratulated for deciding to hold this competition.’
Cllr Roy Bullock, Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, said: ‘We were extremely pleased with the high standard of submissions received for the design competition. Now that the winner has been announced we embark on the detailed design stage, which should lead to the submission of a planning application in the near future.
‘We would like to thank RIBA South East for their commitment to the competition and for their invaluable advice; and also the members of the judging panel for their wise deliberations on all the designs. I am sure that all the residents of Tunbridge Wells will welcome this development on such a prominent site.’
David Swann of Lordland Europe Ltd, the specialist development management company that represents the new owner of the former cinema site, said: ‘We are very pleased with the results of this competition and have been extremely impressed with the quality and creativity of all the design proposals presented. We are now looking forward to working with the selected architects to create a development as quickly as possible, which will be an important part of both the townscape and life of Tunbridge Wells. I’d like to thank Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the Royal Institute of British Architects for organising this competition so efficiently; and would recommend this approach to other property developers.’
Please follow the links to download the associated files:
- Architects' design presentation with plans, photos and drawings - PDF (2.5MB)
- Concept overview boards with plans, photos and drawings - PDF (5.3MB)
- Report detailing the architects approach and practice profile - PDF (47MB)
The Jury Report
27 February 2008 - Panter Hudspith Architects WINNER
The scale and the functions of local, historic spaces, such as the Fishmarket and Bath Square on the Pantiles are referenced within the scheme; and the form of the building picks up the base rhythm of the streetscape and echoes successfully the series of frontages on the other side of the road. At street level, the retail element will work well. Visibly robust local materials – stone and brickwork – will tuck the building into the urban environment.
Panter Hudspith’s concept design pulls back from the Northern edge of the site, to address directly the geometry of the Town Hall opposite and to strengthen the visual link with Church Road and the common beyond. Particularly satisfying is the inclusion of two open spaces: these feel semi-private and are thus highly controllable. The public space leading off Mount Pleasant makes an excellent and inviting entrance to the hotel, which has clear access and a dedicated drop-off point. The scheme deals very positively with the changes in levels across the site, incorporating roof terraces and topped off with a spa.
This is a nicely-controlled, restrained and very usable concept design which we were unanimous in selecting as the best way forward for Tunbridge Wells.
Other entries
Avanti Architects
Designed as a series of pavilions, Avanti’s design tries to balance
the scheme’s obligations to its users, to the town and its history
and to the client. It proposes an extensive roof garden and a camera obscura
as an additional tourist attraction in the town.
ctmarchitects
ctmarchitects’ design conceives the building with a dramatic, curved
frontage and coloured glass cladding to reflect the greenery of the town.
A large, public piazza is above street level; and a private hotel courtyard
draws light into the centre of the building.
FAT
FAT’s design aims for a contemporary building that reflects the character
of Tunbridge Wells. A series of ‘slices’ are unified at the base
with a colonnade. The building uses traditional materials of the area –
stucco, brick, lapped timber and marble.
Hazle McCormack Young
Hazle McCormack Young provide an aspirational and ambitious view of the
shopping experience in Tunbridge Wells. A new entertainment and cultural
quarter features a large public piazza, that might one day stretch across
Mount Pleasant.
Stanton Williams
Focused around the idea of the space as a plinth, with the main buildings
set back, the scheme attempts to create strong dialogues with the crossroads
and with the adjacent buildings. It draws the surrounding landscape even
further into the town centre, by opening up the views.
Competitors View the Site
8 January 2008 - All the competition architects visit the site together, and take part in a question and answer session with the developers agents, Borough Council planners and the RIBA.
Competitors viewing former cinema site from within the Town Hall opposite
Competition Launched
12 December 2007 - The design competition for the former Cinema site was launched by Cllr Roy Bullock TWBC Leader, Helen Wren Director RIBA South East and David Swann the developer’s representatiive.
In order to provide a little more time for the competitors the deadline
for submissions has now been extended to 14 February 2008. Judging is to
take place on 20 February