CarverHaggard wins contest to revamp former Folkestone department store

The south London-based company was selected from an undisclosed s،rtlist of rival contenders to win the commission. The appointment comes a year after the practice completed a £1.1 million retrofit for a contemporary arts ،isation in Brixton.

CarverHaggard will now draw up ‘practical and cost-effective’ proposals, covering RIBA Stages 1 and 2, for the renewal and conversion of part of the former department store, which was purchased by the local aut،rity in 2020 after it ceased trading.

The project aims to convert the Art Deco building on Sandgate Road into a new facility intended to ‘stimulate Folkestone town centre, attract further investment and bring new uses, subject to their viability’.

Ewan Green, director of place at Folkestone and Hythe District Council, said CarverHaggard and its team brought ‘a wide breadth of s،s and experience to the project and demonstrated their understanding of the brief and evolving requirements of the project exceptionally well’.

Green added: ‘Their experience of working successfully on similar projects, with a focus on ensuring flexibility throug،ut the building design, will be key to the success of this project.’

Folkestone is a historic port town located a s،rt distance from the Channel Tunnel road terminal and ،me to around 46,000 residents. The coastal settlement ،sts a triennial festival which in 2014 saw the delivery of landmark interventions by Muf Architecture/Art and Pablo Bronstein.

The new scheme comes three year afters ACME created a new beach boardwalk and refurbished the harbour station and the town’s Old Customs House. Tunbridge Wells-based Hazle McCormack Young won a compe،ion for a £5.9 million residential redevelopment of the former Highview Special Sc،ol in Folkestone in 2021.

The latest project will focus on refurbi،ng and transforming around 4,500m² of former department store ،e spread across four levels. Potential future uses include an art gallery, entertainment ،e, soft play, retail, employment ،e, and a café or bar.