The new Sidcup Storyteller - Library, Cinema, Housing & Café has won a prestigious Pineapple Award in recognition of its outstanding design and its success in bringing the community back to the High Street.  

The Council’s Bexleyheath High Streets For All project  also received a Pineapple award in the ‘Activation’ category which recognises initiatives that enhance the life of a place.

This follows on from the recent 2024 RIBA South East Conservation Award for great architecture, won by The Exchange, the old Carnegie library in Erith, that has been transformed into a community hub.

Both the Pineapple awards and the RIBA national awards are highly regarded and recognise and promote best practice in urban design and development as well as the contribution that a building makes to the renewal of an area and its positive impact on a local community. The judging process is rigorous, and the entry criteria is focussed on the environmental and social impact of the development project.  

Winning a Pineapple award and a RIBA award means that the development projects and their teams are celebrated nationally and that the story of this successful regeneration In Bexley will be shared with a broad audience.

Cllr Munur, Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Place said:

This is a fantastic achievement for the Council and residents, who play an important part in helping to design the developments we build in their communities. 

To be recognised at a national and regional level as an example of best practice for two community developments and for initiatives in Bexleyheath High Street is no mean achievement.  

We’ve always been clear that in our Borough we want the right kind of development. These awards recognise that we have achieved this and demonstrate that when we work in partnership with residents, community groups and high-quality designers we can make great things happen.”

The Sidcup Storyteller cinema is a partnership between London Borough of Bexley and independent operator, Really Local Group and DRDH architects. The cinema screens a range of film titles and offers discounted memberships. For more information, visit Sidcup Storyteller.

Learn about the Storyteller Library, including events, membership information, and opening times, by visiting Bexley Library.

Find out more about the Bexleyheath High Streets For All initiatives and this partnership.

The Exchange is a partnership between the Council, local company The Exchange (building management), and Robin Lee Architects. For further details, visit The Exchange.