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.”
Pembroke Mill Lane in Cambridge has won one of 21 National Civic Trust Awards from more than 300 entries.
In the first of three articles for the NLA - Tom Gibson and Hannah Constantine, Associate Directors at Haworth Tompkins, reflect on the growing role of mass timber in contemporary architecture.
A major milestone has been reached with the submission of planning for the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community in Essex for our client Latimer by Clarion Housing, with Haworth Tompkins leading the collaborative design team.
Planning permission has been secured for the transformation of 980 Great West Road in Brentford, marking a major milestone for the reuse-led redevelopment of the former GSK headquarters.
Brilliant news that the redevelopment of the Warburg Institute has been shortlisted for a RIBA London (West) Award.
The Warburg Renaissance Project transformed the Warburg Institute into a more open, accessible and public-facing institution, revealing hidden collections to new audiences and the public for the first time in its history, expanding capacity for 20 years of future growth and securing its cultural legacy through sensitive restoration, sustainable design and improved facilities for research, teaching and public engagement.
Pembroke Mill Lane, Cambridge has been shortlisted for a RIBA East Award.
Haworth Tompkins has three projects shortlisted at this year’s Pineapple Awards: The Developer and Festival of Place, which celebrate excellence in placemaking. The shortlists demonstrate the strength of our approach to placemaking and collaborative design.
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