The Creative Quarter Masterplan

The Creative Quarter is an initiative of the Creative Foundation - a charity founded by Sir Roger De Haan aimed specifically at the arts-led regeneration of The Old Town, the historic heart of Folkestone.

In 2003 our practice was commissioned to draw up a three-phase masterplan for the complex of sites and empty buildings assembled by the Foundation to support creative industries and provide living accommodation for those who work in them.

001 Folkestone Projects Area Map — Projects' area map

The masterplan has since flexed and evolved. Among other commissions, between 2013 and 2017 we worked on three projects that breathed new life into properties in the Old Town conservation area identified at-risk by English Heritage, restoring them into galleries, shops, cafés and accommodation for the creative industries and local education bodies, together with affordable studio and living accommodation for artists.

003 University Centre Folkestone — University Centre | © Edmund Sumner

005 the Smokehouse Exterior — The Smokehouse fish restaurant | © Edmund Sumner

008 18 24 Old High Street Folkestone 03 Street View 03 — View of 21-24 and 23-29 The Old High Street | © Pringle Richards Sharratt Ltd

Working with the local conservation and planning team we established sensitive and ingenious interventions respectful of historic texture, grain and street pattern - as it winds its way from the upper town to the harbour area. This townscape initiative was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

At 18-24 Old High Street, three Grade II-listed adjacent properties were renovated to include commercial spaces on the ground floor and a variety of live-work residential units on the first and second floors.

Another three properties at 23-29 in the same street, two of which Grade II-listed, and an adjacent vacant plot were redeveloped into commercial spaces on the ground floor with two family-orientated residential units on the first and second floor and into a new structure to signal the entrance to the central area known as Payers Park, regenerated as part of the 2014 Folkestone Triennial curated by Lewis Biggs.

23 25 Tontine Street, Folkestone 04 Ohs Approach — View of Tontine Street approach

For 23-25 Tontine Street, one fundamental objective was to address and counter the turning away of the surrounding buildings from Payers Park: our approach was to re-establish the original building form and line of the buildings on the site and to dramatically improve their amenity and appearance to the rear by removing a poor-quality two-storey extension. This would allow pedestrian access, light, air, and landscaping as an extension of the newly completed park regeneration, deep into the site. The approach also aimed to influence, encourage and trigger a positive response to Payers Park in the future development of the surrounding buildings.

23 25 Tontine Street, Folkestone 02 Street View — View of 23-25 Tontine Street | © Pringle Richards Sharratt Ltd

The Creative Quarter is now home to a thriving community of artists and creative businesses which, together with a renowned Triennial Arts Festival, demonstrates a unique and successful approach to the regeneration of a hitherto declining town.

002 Creative Quarter 3 7 Tontine St — | © Jack Bailey Folkestone

Consultants

Structural Engineering: Rodrigues Associates

Building Services Engineering: Dowling Blunt