PLANS for the first purpose-built centre for music in the county have been unveiled by top composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

The £8million facility, which is subject to planning permission, would be built in the grounds of Canterbury Christ Church University, next to St Gregory’s Church in North Holmes Road.

Most of the building would be sunk into the ground to include a 350-seat concert auditorium, a suite of fully equipped rehearsal and practice rooms and additional areas for teaching and workshops.

The Grade II listed St Gregory’s Church, designed by architect Sir Gilbert Scott, will remain the highest building on the site.

The new music centre will feature a domed copper clad roof, glass fronting and new landscaping in the church grounds.

Project development officer Kate Chesterman expects the community to benefit from the new site.

“We have some terrific artistic partnerships, for example with the Canterbury International Arts Festival and the Sounds New festival,” she said.

“We really feel this facility is going to offer fantastic opportunities across Kent for partnership working and really make it widely available.

“I’d like to say this is one of the most exciting music projects that’s happened in Kent for decades.”

The St Gregory’s Church is already used by the University to host concerts and events, but is not a purpose-built facility and students currently have to use three or four different sites across Canterbury to carry out their studies.