BETTESHANGER COUNTRY PARK VISITOR CENTRE
A new-build visitor centre within an 80 hectare country park, housing Biomass Energy Centre, Cycle Hire, Café, Conferencing and Visitor Centre as well as the Kent Coal Mining Museum.
The project will be one of the UK’s most sustainable buildings, designed to be BREEAM “Excellent” rated as well as complying with the WELL Building Standard®. The centre will form the hub of the proposed Betteshanger Sustainable Parks Development.
As part of the overall park-wide sustainability masterplan, the cafe and shop at the visitor centre will sell local food and crafts, produced within the country park and allotments. A demonstration biomass boiler utilising locally sourced wood chip will provide heat and power supplemented with PV’s and Solar radiant panels. Rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling are also included.
Acting as a threshold, dividing car parking from the wider parkland area, the building has a water feature running the length of the northern facade, and outdoor café and play spaces to the south, linking to the country park beyond.
