Work starts soon on £4m media centre

The plans mean the demolition of one of the Victorian County Buildings '” no 45a '” a feature of the street, and its replacement by a new colourful all-glass construction which is set to become a town centre landmark.

Two adjacent buildings will be converted, with the plans including a restaurant and offices.

The aim is to open the doors of the new media centre next August.

The proposals also include the total refurbishment and internal fit out of the old Boots premises across the road from the Victorian 'County' buildings.

The two sites, which together will provide 18,000 sq ft of space, will, said the task force working on the town's regeneration, create a "vibrant hub for young companies at the cutting edge of new media".

The Boots site will accommodate 25 companies depending on size and the County Buildings will have space for 15, again depending on size.

The go ahead for the proposals was given by planning councillors on Thursday who welcomed the new colours.

They had referred back the first designs for the new centre for a re-think because they were too grey. Councillors also hadn't liked the timber cladding.

The architects came back with a Mark Two brighter version, with a substantial re design of the Cambridge Road elevation with coloured glass panels replacing the heavily criticised timber cladding rain scheme. The design also included a vertical panel of ceramic tiling, colour co-ordinated with the new glass rain scheme.

Planning councillor Godfrey Daniel commented: "The frontaging in Cambridge Road will have a vibrant, modern appeal suitable for a new landmark building. I can see it as a potential 21st century listed building."

Planning chief Paul Lewis commented: "I believe we have now achieved a building of quality and stature and the striking Cambridge Road elevation will be a new landmark in the town centre.

"I was initially concerned at the ceramic tile cladding but if colour co-ordinated with the glass panels they will I believe contribute to the overall impact and positive effect of the building on the street scene."

The architects, BBM Sustainable Designs, waxed lyrical: "The use of coloured glass panels will in our view create an undulating reflective surface during the day, which at night will glow like a colourful beacon, satisfying the civic and urban requirements of our brief."