A New Performing Arts Centre for Dover

January 17, 2024
by Lucy Donoghue
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A collective effort from our architecture, planning and heritage teams, LEP are delighted to confirm that a wonderful scheme for a new Performing Arts Centre in Dover for Dover College has received planning permission and listed building consent.

This project will repurpose existing buildings in the ownership of the College, including the former medical centre and international study centre to provide a modern multi-use performing arts centre. A new impressive entrance will be created from college grounds, with a direct link provided between the existing Tallis Building, housing the college’s music department, to the new performing arts centre.

With no existing performance space, this project will provide Dover College with accommodation which will assist in achieving its aspirations for future growth. The proposed high-quality purpose-built facility will provide opportunities for development for the College, together with potential for community and third-party use.

The new performance space will provides seating for audiences of up to 170, which can be folded away when required to create a flexible space, suitable for multiple performance types and events.

Located in a heritage-sensitive area, the design for the new Performing Arts Centre was developed in careful consultation with our in-house heritage specialists. Dover’s burgeoning cultural scene currently has limited physical spaces for performances, and it is hoped that this new facility will provide a wealth of opportunity for current and future creative generations.

As well as hosting a Public Consultation event at the College, LEP’s planning team undertook thorough pre-planning engagement with Dover District Council and Historic England – essential processes which have helped in the development of the project to help meet the needs to all stakeholders. The project team are delighted that the scheme was approved under delegated powers in December 2023.

LEP are now pleased to continue its work with Dover College to delivery this exciting scheme, and look forward to working closely with the project team to develop this exciting scheme for our client.