New Turner gallery plans welcomed

The proposed building has light as one of its central design themes

Widespread approval has greeted the redrawn designs for a new £17.5m art gallery in a Kent seaside town.

The Turner Contemporary building, part of Margate's creative regeneration, is now on two floors instead of three, with light as a central design theme.

The proposals will now be subject to a formal planning application with 2010 being a target year for completion.

Architect David Chipperfield said: "We have taken advantage of a dramatic setting with extraordinary views."

And the man behind the Turner Contemporary project added: "Our building will look out to the sea, connect itself to the town and capture the same unique light that inspired [painter JMW] Turner."

The new designs were presented at a public meeting at Margate's Theatre Royal on Tuesday evening.

'Turner Extraordinary'

Mr Chipperfield said: "If you do a good project, if you make a good institution where you get the architecture, the idea and the role in the community right - then you can be guaranteed that people will come and look at it."

The building has been designed to offer panoramic sea views, with the open gallery spaces drawing in northern light.

A young people's gallery, a studio for community use and a ground floor space for other events and activities are also planned.

North Thanet MP Roger Gale described the new designs as a "Turner Extraordinary" for Margate.

The gallery is planned for the Rendezvous site at Fort Hill, after previous proposals to put it out at sea were scrapped when estimated costs rose to the region of £50m.

But Mr Gale said after seeing the latest drawings: "However much hassle it's been, it will have been worth it."