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.”
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