Canterbury Levelling Up Fund
Revitalising Canterbury’s historic heart through connected landscapes, heritage trails and vibrant civic spaces
Canterbury, Kent, UK
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has awarded almost £20 million to Canterbury City Council for its “Connected Canterbury: Unlocking the Tales of England” project. The investment will transform the city’s public spaces, celebrating Canterbury’s heritage while creating a more vibrant, welcoming and accessible city centre.
Representing a total investment of £22 million, with the remainder funded by Canterbury City Council, the scheme will revitalise the city’s public spaces, celebrating its rich heritage while creating a more vibrant and accessible city centre.
The masterplan establishes a coordinated programme of city wide initiatives, including the proposed renovation and reopening of Canterbury Castle, a new events space at Westgate Square near the Westgate Towers, and improvements around the Clock Tower in St George’s Street. It also includes greening the bus station and St George’s Lane, introducing story gardens across the city, and creating new heritage routes, including along the historic city walls.
Gillespies’ proposals focused carefully targeted landscape interventions to maximise the impact of change across key sites. A series of Canterbury Trails, including river, heritage and garden trails, will connect parks, gardens, gateways and historic assets back to the high street retail core. New plaza spaces at either end of the high street will provide flexible settings for events and civic activity.
Enhancements to heritage assets such as the city wall, castle and Greyfriars Gardens, alongside improved arrival points including the bus station and car parks, will help attract visitors and support the local economy. At the same time, upgrades to parks, streets and play spaces will strengthen wellbeing and community life.
Canterbury City Council’s bid was supported by partners including Historic England. Gillespies was appointed to support the design stage of the Levelling Up bid, leading the landscape and public realm vision in collaboration with Studio Evans Lane, Mayer Brown, Maynard, Cundall, Engenuiti, Direct Access, Core Five and RCGCI, informed by extensive consultation with residents and businesses.
Project details
Title
Canterbury Levelling Up Fund
Client
Canterbury City Countil
Status
Complete
Project team
Gillespies | Studio Evans Lane | Mayer Brown | Mayhard | Cundall | Engenuiti | Direct Access | Corefive | RCGCI
Gillespies team
Bill Basterfield
Photography
CGI copyright Gillespies