Haworth Tompkins is thrilled to be working with Ashford Borough Council on the transformation of the former Odeon cinema building into a vibrant new cultural and community venue in the heart of Ashford.
Appointed in December 2025 alongside Price & Myers, Skelly & Couch, and Bristow Consulting, the team has developed a Strategic Vision and Concept Design that reimagines the historic 1930s cinema as a flexible, accessible and welcoming civic asset.
The project builds upon the Council’s ambition to restore the building’s distinctive art deco frontage and bring renewed life to High Street activation, while creating a range of adaptable spaces for performance, events, exhibitions and community use.
The concept design and accompanying business plan were approved at Cabinet on the 12th March, marking a significant milestone and enabling the project to move into its next stage of development.
Lucy Picardo, Director, Haworth Tompkins, said: “This is a rare and exciting opportunity to reactivate a much-loved local landmark and return it to public use. Our approach has been to work with the building’s historic character, celebrating its heritage while carefully adapting it to support contemporary cultural and community uses. We are delighted to be working with Ashford Borough Council and the wider team on a project which places culture at the heart of Ashford’s ongoing town centre regeneration.
Cllr Noel Ovenden, Leader of the Council, said: “This project marks a major step toward revitalising one of Ashford’s most recognisable assets, along with continuing to create a strong cultural offer for the town, and I’m pleased to see it progressing with real momentum.”
We are so pleased to see The Court Theatre continue to receive industry recognition, with multiple honours at Friday night's Property Council New Zealand Industry Awards, including the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Judges' Choice Award.
In the second of three NLA articles, Tom Gibson, Associate Director at Haworth Tompkins, reflects on the practice’s international mass timber projects and the lessons they offer for timber construction in the UK.
Last week, Haworth Tompkins received the Dewi-Prys Thomas Award for our work on Theatr Clwyd in Mold, North Wales. The award celebrates the role of design in improving quality of life and supporting regeneration across Wales.
The redevelopment of Pembroke Mill Lane, Cambridge, for Pembroke College has been recognised with four RIBA awards, including a 2026 RIBA East Award, Building of the Year, Project Architect and the Conservation Award.
Planning approval has been granted for two new residential developments at Regents Court and Orwell Court & Welshpool Street, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing Hackney New Homes Programme.
Following the announcement of £10m investment from the Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to undertake critical infrastructure repairs to the Grade I listed Royal Festival Hall, we are delighted to announce our appointment to work with the Southbank Centre on the next phases of this landmark project.
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