Five initial projects form the Tales of the Future vision, designed to touch each of the future tales objectives; developing the city’s commercial potential, helping create healthy & sustainable communities, and further enhancing the city as a destination through its rich heritage and culture.
tales of the future | CORE PROJECT 4
cANTERBURY WEST innovation DISTRICT (STATION ROAD WEST & ROPER ROAD)
Creation of a landmark mixed use innovation district centered around Canterbury’s high speed train line, providing Grade A office, workshop and studio accommodation to attract high skill jobs and innovative businesses to the city. Celebrating the city’s world-first railway heritage and acting as a catalyst to help build Canterbury’s future economy - meeting the demands of changing workplace patterns with high quality flexible workspace options.
4.1 INNOVATION DISTRICT
A new mixed use innovation campus on brownfield land at Roper Road to create a new sustainable innovation district. Designed to attract high quality science, technology & green businesses to high specification offices, studios and workshops, on a campus designed to reflect and celebrate the history of the Crab & Winkle line - perfectly located next to the high speed line to London. Providing much needed, highly accessible and flexible workspace in the city to accommodate the changing patterns of work accelerating due to the impact of the pandemic.
Inclusion of the Canterbury West over-line signal box as a heritage feature to protect the heritage asset for years to come (soon to become redundant).
Sidings Park a new linear park on the former railway sidings to link the North & South elements of the site with a new crossing.
The Goods Yard a new food & craft destination (Canterbury’s version of Folkestone’s Harbour Arm) set within converted railway carriages to complement the offer of the Goods Shed and create a new destination for the city, celebrating the areas railway heritage. The Signal Box is included as a heritage feature, which would become home to a cafe, museum or micro pub etc.
A Crab & Winkle Story Garden improving the setting of the listed over-line signal box & telling the story of Canterbury’s Crab & Winkle line in a new green space to compliment the innovation district buildings and new residents.
Illumination, streetscene, trees, hard & soft landscaping, & wayfinding improvements.
ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY
Existing office accommodation in the city is often dated and cramped, the majority of spaces are set within period buildings that don’t offer the flexibility and open floor plans preferred by current markets. The nature of Canterbury’s historic centre and the lack of space to create Grade A office, studio and workshop facilities is restricting the city’s ambition.
The Station Road West & Roper Road sites represent a once in a generation opportunity to create an exciting new innovation district on highly connected brownfield land next to Canterbury’s high speed railway line:
Rare collection of brownfield sites perfect for regeneration - with a small number of landholders.
Potential future regeneration opportunities nearby to expand the innovation district to meet demand.
Unlocking once in a generation improvements to Canterbury West Station and line, which could inlcude:
Ground level access to platform 2 for the first time, providing a new northern station entrance (platform 2).
12-car platform extensions.
Reduction in crossing down times.
Integrated transport hub.
Unbeatable proximity to high speed rail and the city centre (a car-free development).
Celebrating Canterbury’s railway heritage.
A catalyst for city centre jobs in high growth, innovative sectors.
Freeing up city centre space in period buildings more suited to boutique hotels and residential accommodation.
Close proximity to city universities and with potential to provide graduate jobs.
Enhancing connectivity between both sides of the railway line via a new linear park along the former railway siding.
New office tenants attracting high volumes of additional footfall to city centre businesses.
Continuation of the Station Road West frontage creating an attractive avenue of trees.
Helping to create a new destination city for business events and conferences, in conjunction with the proposed Castle Conference & Exhibition Hall.
Improving the railway underpass, cycle routes and pathways as part of the project site.
INSPIRATION
tales of the future | CORE PROJECT 5
SIDNEY COOPER CIVIC, ARTS & COMMUNITY CENTRE
Creation of a civic, arts & community centre to compliment the legacy of Sidney Cooper who gifted the space to the city.
5.1 SIDNEY COOPER CIVIC, ARTS & COMMUNITY CENTRE
New creative spaces for local artists, businesses and the community.
A new bright, accessible, modern Council Chamber. Allowing the redevelopment of the Guildhall to create the new Welcome Centre.
Flexible halls for community events, exhibitions, gallery space and breakout space for the Westgate Hall. Collapsable public seating for the Council Chamber and events.
Civic Reception & Consultation Space a focal point for civic pride and city consultations, providing direct access to local residents.
Indicative only
tales of the future | CORE PROJECT 6
Tannery recreation park & skate garden
Creation of a fitness and recreation park including a landmark Skate Garden to provide Canterbury’s visitors and residents with a destination for fitness and wellbeing, linking to the new City Wall Mile and Great Stour Way for excellent connectivity.
6.1 TANNERY RECREATION PARK
Landmark Skate Garden to provide world-class skate facilities that celebrates the story of Canterbury’s rebels, set amongst beautiful landscaping and biodiversity, fusing two passions of the younger generation.
Tannery Park Pavilion providing modern and accessible facilities for the local community, and a focal point for enjoyment of the wider Hambrook Marshes & cycling.
A new cycle hub to provide cycling facilities for visitors and residents, including puncture stations, secure bike parking (for Park & Bike visitors to the city centre), and water bottle refilling stations - acting as a cycling hub for cycling in the district with connection to Great Stour Way and city centre.
New all weather recreation surface adjacent to Toddlers Cove to encourage fitness activities all year round, and new informal grass play areas.
Enhanced & repaired adventure play areas to cater for children of all ages - with a central viewing area for parents and guardians.
An Industrial Heritage Story Garden alongside the wildflower meadow, telling the story of Canterbury’s industrial past.
Nature trails across Bingley Island to encourage exploration and engagement with nature, with outdoor learning spaces.
A water recreation pontoon to provide safe access to the river with parking at Toddlers Cove.
SITE INSPIRATION
TALES of the future | CORE PROJECT 7
DANE John EVENT PARK
Creating a world-class special events park in the Dane John Gardens, building upon the success of Canterbury’s event industry, encouraging the creation of new high quality seasonal experiences and further cementing Kent as a destination county with Canterbury at its epicentre.
7.1 Dane John GARDENS EVENT PARK
Improvements to the event facilities in the gardens, including three-phase power and WC provisions.
Creation of the Dane John Steps (Commemorative Steps) to improve the link between the new City Wall Park and the Dane John Gardens, providing a stepped terrace for people to enjoy picnics and special events in the gardens, including a paved area in front of the steps with a relocated flagpole for city commemorations (the steps could also be inscribed). The stepped terrace could be used for a number of activities such as yoga classes to animate the park.
Repaving of the main Dane John pathways and new paving around the bandstand to link the Commemorative Steps and City Wall Park to the main park routes (repurposing the brick surfacing removed as part of the the High Street regeneration to limit our carbon footprint).
Uniting the two Royal East Kent Yeomanry memorials by moving the one located in the High Street (which has moved previously) adjacent to the the South Africa Memorial in the Dane John Gardens, adjacent to the new commemorative steps. This would allow space for the Aphra Behn statue in the High Street (outside former Nasons) and creation of the proposed Aphra Story Garden. Read more about the memorial proposals.
Enhancing security and access controls in the park.
Restoration of the Biggleston lamp posts in the gardens.
New well designed concessions structures to provide a street food destination for visitors.
Restoration of the WW2 structures to provide event storage and enhance their heritage story.
Increasing biodiversity in conjunction with the new City Wall Park.
SITE INSPIRATION
TALES of the future | CORE PROJECT 8
THE MARLOWE KIT
(Project of The Marlowe Trust)
Since 2019 the 800-year-old Grade I listed Poor Priests’ Hospital on Stour Street has had a new lease of life as the home of the Marlowe’s work with schools and young people from across Kent and for its thriving Youth Company for 7 to 21 year-olds.
A capital project is now underway to safeguard the building’s future as a unique combined Performing Arts Learning Centre to enable The Marlowe to increase its participation work with young people and to create a free-to-access heritage destination, with the restoration and interpretation of the Great Hall and chapel, along with and a riverside café and events space for our visitors and local community to enjoy.
The city’s Levelling Up bid will fund vital repairs to the medieval fabric of the building and will help bring an important heritage building within the city walls back to vibrant life.