Dalby Square, Margate

Dalby Square in Cliftonville is owned by Kent County Council and forms part of Thanet District Council’s ‘Dalby Square Townscape Heritage Initiative’ (THI).  This initiative aims to bring family-sized housing back into the deprived wards of the town.

The brief for the refurbishment of this property at Dalby Square required Lee Evans Partnership to consider and include three key design aspects; i) the repair of the building to approved conservation standards; ii) low energy adaptations to the building to make it ‘future climate proof’; and iii) the remodelling of the building layout to make it suitable for multi-generational living (‘3G Living’).  3G Living has the aspiration of improving the quality of life for all generations, combating loneliness, reducing housing costs for individuals and providing mutual support for all.

Not many residential refurbishment projects can boast positive credentials as impressive as those seen at this property, and it is hoped that this scheme, together with the rejuvenation of Dalby Square as a whole, will positively revitalise Cliftonville West, one of the most deprived areas of Kent.

The Academy of Urbanism described this part-Heritage Lottery Funded project as ‘ground-breaking’, and it is certainly the most ambitious grant-aided project under the Dalby Square THI scheme.

Forming part of the project team, the University of Kent’s Schools or Architecture and Psychology undertook extensive research and monitoring into the property, and will carry out post-occupancy evaluation for a further year.

Project managed by Gen² and constructed by Astral Ltd, it is hoped that this climate change adapted multi-generational house will be used as a model for testing ideas on how to adapt historic buildings to accommodate projected changes in society and climate.  The overall aim of the project was to develop a Sustainable Heritage Toolkit for use in other British historic coastal towns, creating a meaningful legacy for the work undertaken at Dalby Square.