Latest news with #FolkestoneandHytheDistrictCouncil
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents' views sought on new park play area
A council in Kent is asking for residents' views on a play area that will be in a new park. Folkestone and Hythe District Council said the play area would be in a public park in Bouverie Square, which is part of the government-funded Folkestone – A Brighter Future programme. The park would be constructed when the new bus stops are created along Shellons Street, the council added. A survey on the play area, which arts charity Creative Folkestone has been commissioned to deliver, is open until 16:00 BST on 28 April. The council said Folkestone – A Brighter Future would provide a boost to the regeneration of the town centre. Work has started on the £20m-scheme and is expected to finish in the summer of 2026. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Scheme to transform town centre given start date Plans to move library into former Debenhams store Multi-million-pound seafront revamp plans refused Folkestone and Hythe District Council Creative Folkestone
BBC News
20-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Folkestone residents' views sought on new park play area
A council in Kent is asking for residents' views on a play area that will be in a new park. Folkestone and Hythe District Council said the play area would be in a public park in Bouverie Square, which is part of the government-funded Folkestone – A Brighter Future park would be constructed when the new bus stops are created along Shellons Street, the council added.A survey on the play area, which arts charity Creative Folkestone has been commissioned to deliver, is open until 16:00 BST on 28 April. The council said Folkestone – A Brighter Future would provide a boost to the regeneration of the town centre. Work has started on the £20m-scheme and is expected to finish in the summer of 2026.
BBC News
20-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Folkestone: 'eyesore Pigeon Hotel' turned into flats
A Folkestone property once dubbed the "Pigeon Hotel" has been transformed into at 45 Augusta Gardens, it had stood empty for nearly 20 years, inhabited by pigeons and had most of its floors was the subject of multiple complaints and a petition, with a potential compulsory purchase order from Folkestone and Hythe District Council Will Brown purchased the property in January 2022 after receiving support from No Use Empty (NUE) and said the scheme allowed him to "eliminate eyesores" and "create housing". The NUE is Kent County Council's loan initiative, allowing developers to turn empty homes back into use. The local authority told the BBC it cost about £850,000 and took three years to transform the property into five flats. New tenants have moved in since the end of January with more expected to Murphy, the council's cabinet member for economic development, said: "The NUE is an absolutely no-brainer scheme. "It creates homes and business, benefiting the entire local community. "It contributes considerably to the regeneration of the street scene, and raises revenue."Councillor Rebecca Shoob, Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: "It's wonderful that this property has been given a new lease of life after being an eyesore for so long."
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Large solar farm to power thousands of homes
A large solar farm is set to power almost half of a Kent town and make millions for the local council. Folkestone and Hythe District Council plans to build the facility on agricultural land in Court-at-Street, Lympne, near the Otterpool Park site. The solar farm will provide energy to 8,500 homes, which are due to be built on and around the former Folkestone Racecourse, near Sellindge, after receiving planning approval in 2023. Council leader Jim Martin said the plans were to "create a credible pathway to a net-zero development". The authority's final goal is to build 10,000 homes, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. At a cabinet meeting last week, it was revealed the scheme will generate £21m over the next three decades. "One of the beauties of this is that the solar installation builds with the development," Mr Martin said. "There's no point putting panels in the field when you haven't got houses to connect them to." The solar farm, which could expand onto neighbouring land in the future, is set to be run by renewables firm SNRG. Documents show that the site will be built in phases, with phase one covering an area of about 47 acres, and the second covering 49 acres. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Battery storage site plans for solar farm Plan for energy storage facility on green belt Energy Park battery unit given green light Folkestone & Hythe District Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
