Horsebridge Development

Canterbury City Council, as planning authority and landowner, issued a detailed design brief and proposals for an architect developer competition in July 1999. Four proposals were exhibited in April 2000 as part of the public consultation. Clague Architects' scheme received a majority of public votes.

The sites were transferred to Banbury Estates in return for providing a community building, now leased to a not-for-profit company, and a new public square, which remain the property of the Council. With Heritage Lottery Fund assistance and the developer’s £150,000 contribution to fitting out of the public facilities, construction began in May 2002. Difficult ground conditions and the discovery of contamination delayed work for over a year on the project's second phase. In addition, an archaeological evaluation undertaken early on revealed the site’s significance and led to the foundations being piled to avoid disturbance.

Artists commissioned and funded by the regional arts programme and Arts and Business (£39,500) created temporary works during construction and contributed to the design of elements in the public realm such as seating in the new Horsebridge square.