Two Thanet developments shortlisted for Kent Design awards

The Bread Mill and 12a Dalby Square have been shortlisted

Two projects from Thanet are among 34 that have been shortlisted for this year’s Kent Design and Development Awards.

The judges will now visit the schemes from across the county, which have been selected from the 80 who entered. The awards are jointly organised and sponsored by Kent County Council, planning consultant DHA, and PR and marketing agency Maxim.

The six categories are: Commercial, Industrial and Retail; Conservation; Environmental Performance; Infrastructure and Renewables; Public Buildings – Education and Community; and Residential – Minor and Major. The overall title of Project of the Year is then selected from among the category winners.

Thanet’s entries are 12a Dalby Square in Cliftonville and the former Hovis flour mill site in Ramsgate.

12a Dalby Square exterior before and after

The property 12a Dalby Square is owned by Kent County Council and is part of the £2.7m Dalby Square Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Thanet District Council.

The property has been restored by Lee Evans architects and taken from former subdivided hotel rooms to a home that can accommodate up to 12 people living as a family.

It has seven bedrooms, three kitchens, three bathrooms, three living rooms and a private garden. There are period features and fittings throughout, views onto the communal gardens and on-street parking.

The project team will carry out one year’s research on a family, spanning three generations, living at the home.

The Bread Factory in Ramsgate is a development on the site of the historic Grade II listed former Hovis flour mill consisting of 41 new build residences.

Contemporary townhouses in phase 2 of the scheme will stand adjacent to the original mill at The Bread Factory. The mill was designed by architect E.W. Pugin in 1865 who was known for his Neo-Gothic architecture. The mill was taken over by Rank Hovis flour miller in 1960.

The Bread Factory was given Grade II listed status in 1988 having survived two world wars despite heavy bombings in the area. Air-raid tunnels are still situated under the mill, dug out to protect mill and office workers.

The new build areas have been carefully designed to complement the existing architecture and character of the mill.

Paul Carter, leader of Kent County Council, said: “The diversity and quality of the entries once again demonstrates there is a real commitment to creating well designed buildings that  work well for the people who use them, for the environment and sit well in the Kent landscape.

“The panel of independent judges has scrutinised each of the entries and will shortly set out on a three day mission to visit them all. We look forward to announcing the winners in November at the awards ceremony.”

Brian Horton, Chairman of the Judges and residential property expert, said: “The shortlisting was challenging and I’m sure deciding on the category winners will be even harder.”

Alex Hicken of DHA, sponsors of the overall Project of the Year award, added: “It is great to see the quality of design that’s delivering new buildings, conserving our past and delivering new infrastructure that is helping to shape communities across Kent.”

DHA, Kent County Council and Maxim are joined in delivering the awards by category sponsors including law firm Cripps; CTP Consulting Engineers; Kent Construction Focus Group; the Kent Environment Strategy; the Rochester Bridge Trust and Sibley Pares. Further support is provided by Quinn Estates, Gallagher, and Penenden Heath Developments.

Visit www.kentdesigndevelopmentawards.co.uk to discover which projects have been shortlisted.