The winner of the competition to create concept designs for the new building which will replace the old cinema site on the corner of Church Road and Mount Pleasant Road has been announced today (27th February).

The winners of the competition which was organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) South East Region have been announced as Panter Hudspith Architects.
The winning design incorporates a hotel, office space, retail units and a health spa.
I spoke to Mark Panter of Panter Hudspith the winning architects and asked him if the project was something the practice was excited about as soon as they were invited to take part, ‘Definitely, it was immediately interesting, what we like to do is mixed-use developments in historic town and
city centres.’

David Swann who represents the current owner said that the owner was keen to move the project forward as quickly as possible, ‘We hope to have the planning application in within three to six months, then we would hope to start the building early next year. The build is estimated at eighteen months so hopefully the opening will be spring 2011.’

The concept designs have been welcomed by most people who have seen them, Greg Clark MP for Tunbridge Wells said, ‘I think people will be very pleased with these designs.’

A close up view of the crossroads