Dover Beacon’s ‘The Bench Building’ granted Planning Permission
We are very pleased to announce that The Bench building, part of the Dover Beacon Project, has been granted planning permission at committee.
This building will be a new landmark for Dover, providing opportunities, inspiring generations, and delivering high-quality contemporary architecture in Dover.
Located on an extremely prominent and complex site where the town centre intersects the A20 dual carriageway, the project is set to deliver a creative centre, including studio space and exhibition space for local creatives, an education campus to expand EKC Group‘s offer in Dover to include creative and digital media skills and training, and a business start-up centre to provide high-quality flexible office space for small and medium-sized businesses.
A further education campus is set to enable local young people to access education, training and skills in creative and digital industries, and a business centre is to provide facilities to support start-ups and help small to medium sized businesses to grow. The creative centre is set to facilitate contemporary film making, digital creativity and immersive art.
L E P Architecture and L E P Planning have worked tirelessly with Dover District Council, Jenner Group, AtkinsRéalis, and all the other teams involved to deliver this important regeneration project, right in the heart of Dover town centre. The Dover Beacon project is set to deliver over £90m of economic benefit, bringing investment to boost jobs, skills, and access across the area.
Project Funding
The Dover Beacon project is funded by two key funding streams, combined to deliver creative solutions for the future of the town, and includes. The creative centre and underpass improvements are funded with £3.2m of funding from the Future High Street Fund, together with a £1.7m commitment from DDC’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund. The education campus, business start-up centre, and improved public realm and expansion of the Dover cycle hire scheme are funded by £18.1m awarded by Central Government, together with £1.8m match funding from DDC. The project is expected to deliver £90m of economic benefit. Building work is set to start this September and to finish in spring 2026, when the building is set to be handed to tenant businesses/organisations for fitting out works.
Cllr Kevin Mills, Leader of Dover District Council said:
“This is fantastic news for the town, district and area. This will provide an incredible boost to Dover, supporting regeneration, providing business and creative spaces, and creating exciting new jobs and access to education, training and skills opportunities for young people.”
Client: Dover District Council
Architects: L E P
Heritage Consultants: L E P
Planning Consultants: L E P
Contractor: Jenner Group
Project Management: AtkinsRéalis
Landscape Architects: Lloyd Bore
Ecologist: Lloyd Bore
Civil Engineers: Fairhurst
Electrical Engineers: ADR Consulting
Energy Sustainability Consultants: XDA Consulting
Noise Consultants: Pace Consult
Air Quality: EPS
Archaeology Consultants: Canterbury Archaeological Trust
