Folkestone & Hythe District Council Monthly Update: March 2026
A monthly bulletin from F&HDC. This month: Council's balanced budget, New affordable homes, Local Government Reorganisation, Lower Leas Play Area, More Rail Freight, Town of Culture 2028 bid, High Streets Connect and Grow Rural, Good Food Retail Project, FABF Update & Economic Strategy.
Council agrees balanced budget
Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s 2026/27 budget – the third in succession not to be funded from general reserves – has been approved.
While it provides £20m to be spent on key services supporting residents across the district, there is also a strong focus on the future.
An improved council tax reduction scheme is also being introduced to further help working age, low-income households.
The budget is supported by a 2.99% increase in the district council’s portion of council tax (equivalent to approximately 17p a week for a Band D property). The council is responsible for collecting council tax but 75% of the money is distributed to other services e.g. Kent Fire and Rescue.
New affordable homes
The first council tenants have begun to move into newly built, affordable rent homes on the Risborough Barracks development in Folkestone.
A total of 44 homes are due to be completed by the Autumn and will all be allocated to applicants on the council’s housing list.
Six new homes are also being provided by the council in Lyminge and will also be let at affordable rents to those on the waiting list.
All the new properties have an EPC rating B – keeping energy costs down for residents and supporting the council’s carbon reduction ambitions.
Local Government Reorganisation
Central government’s consultation on the five options for the future number of local authorities in Kent and Medway has begun and is open until Thursday 26 March.
Folkestone & Hythe councillors agreed last year to support the option known as 3a. This proposes three unitary authorities – east, west and north Kent and puts the current district together with the council areas of Dover, Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford.
To take part in the government’s consultation, visit Local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway - GOV.UK
Play area at Lower Leas Coastal Park
Excitement is building for work to begin on the £750,000 refurbishment of the play area in Folkestone’s Lower Leas Coastal Park.
New equipment and more inclusive elements have been planned for the south east’s largest free adventure playground and it is planned that it will be open in time for this year’s summer season.
Following suggestions from residents, there will be additional seating, buggy and cycle parking for families to use. All of this will be surrounded by unique landscaping.
Work will begin once the current cliff stabilisation work near The Vinery is completed.
Successful lobby for more rail freight
A Department of Transport announcement that thousands of tonnes of freight heading across the Channel is to be carried by rail again has been welcomed by the council.
Councillors have been working with Network Rail for the past 18 months supporting its plan to upgrade the freight link between Folkestone and London.
It is estimated that this could lead to the removal of 140,000 lorry journeys from the M20 every year.
Could it be Folkestone?
More than 90 people attended workshops to help in the first stage of a possible bid for Folkestone to become the UK’s first Town of Culture.
The workshop discussions and feedback will greatly assist the council to write an expression of interest in putting the town forward for the accolade.
If successful the next stage would be the preparation of a full bid to gain the prestigious title and £3 million to fund a programme of cultural celebrations during 2028.
High Streets Connect and Grow Rural
Free district-wide programmes are running to help businesses adapt, attract customers and grow.
Free mentoring and interactive workshops are being offered as ideal for high street retailers, cafes, hospitality venues and visitor facing independents.
The rural programme will empower creative makers and diversification projects across Romney Marsh, the North Downs and rural communities. They are ideal for farm enterprises, rural producers, accommodation providers, home based makers and start ups.
More information by emailing economy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk
Good Food Retail Project
Seven local shops in the east of Folkestone are taking part in a new project to promote eating well on a budget and staying healthy.
The council is supporting the Kent County Council led project in which the stores are encouraged to stock healthy food choices and display recipe leaflets and advice about healthier eating.
FABF half way through
The £22m regeneration of Folkestone town centre is now more than halfway complete.
The complex scheme has been running for ten months with work continuing at seven different sites around the town.
The new linear bus station on Middelburg Square has progressed well, with some of the permanent bus shelters now installed.
Cheriton Place will be the next site of works for the rest of March and into April with improvements to the footways and paving.
Economic Strategy
Businesses and residents are invited to input into a new economic strategy for the Folkestone & Hythe district.
The council is particularly interested in hearing about any barriers to trading and ideas for improving business growth and opportunity across the district.
Drop-in sessions have been organised and views can also be shared via a survey open until 16 March.