New Eco-Friendly Horticulture College In Canterbury For East Kent College Group

A planning application has been submitted to Canterbury City Council for a new eco-friendly horticulture and animal welfare teaching centre on the former Hadlow College site in Canterbury. East Kent College Group (EKC Group) acquired the Spring Lane site two years ago following Hadlow College’s fall into administration.  The horticulture, agriculture and animal welfare training centre will now complement the Group’s nearby campus at Canterbury College, with the redevelopment of the Spring Lane site forming part of wider strategic plans by EKC Group for future expansion of the college to meet growing demand for places. Plans include the replacement of existing run-down buildings on the site with two new teaching blocks, designed with sustainability in mind.  Local architects, Lee Evans Partnership, adopted a ‘fabric first’ approach when designing the new buildings: green roofs will provide biodiversity together with a source of natural insulation, reducing heating needs in the winter months and assisting in cooling in the summer, and natural ventilation and day lighting will be used to their maximum to avoid full reliance on mechanical or electrical building systems. Lee Evans Partnership architect Sam Amar said “Alongside our sustainable approach, a primary focus of the design concentrates on creating comfortable and durable teaching spaces, with a sinuous connection between external and internal spaces, creating a link between theory and practice.” It is hoped that the new teaching centre will provide students with a unique study environment, blending classroom and practical-based learning together. A decision on the planning application is expected in May, with EKC Group eager to start construction for completion in the Summer of 2023.