Folkestone & Hythe District Council Monthly Update: October 2025

Local government reorganisation

Leaders of councils in Kent and Medway have asked advisors KPMG to look in more detail at two options for unitary councils and the areas they should cover.

The options are:

• Three unitary councils consisting of Folkestone and Hythe, Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet and Dover in the east; Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale in the north and Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west.
• Four unitary councils consisting of Folkestone and Hythe, Ashford and Swale in the middle of Kent; Dartford, Gravesham and Medway in the north; Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west and Canterbury, Thanet and Dover in the east.

KPMG’s work is being paid for from central government money set aside to deliver local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway. 

Some councils are funding their own business plans for three alternative options. A single unitary authority is being promoted by Kent County Council; a four unitary option promoted by Medway and dividing the district with Hythe and Romney Marsh in a mid-Kent unitary and Folkestone in an  east Kent unitary. A five unitary proposal has also been put forward by Gravesham and Dartford, placing the Folkestone and Hythe district with Ashford and Dover.

Folkestone and Hythe councillors will meet as a full council on 19 November to discuss the options and a preferred option will then be agreed on the same day by the council’s Cabinet. 

Business plans for unitary proposals must be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by 28 November. It is expected that MHCLG will indicate its preferred option in early 2026. Public consultation will follow and the final decision made by government during summer 2026. The new Kent authorities become operational in April 2028.

Bus shelters

Bus shelters across the district are undergoing an upgrade with better protection, improved seating, reinforced windows and digital screens.

The overhaul of bus stops includes the installation of 37 new shelters along bus routes in Folkestone, Hythe and the Romney Marsh.

Bauer Media Outdoor UK has been contracted to complete the scheme and will oversee maintenance of the bus shelters as well as manage advertising at select locations agreed by the council.

Green grants announced

More than 30 organisations including community groups, parish councils and schools are to benefit from funding to support sustainability and carbon reduction projects across the district.

The Green Grant scheme is supporting projects including electrical recycling, tree planting, developing sensory gardens, restoring ponds and installing solar panels.

A full list of the schemes receiving grants can be found on the council website.

Folkestone – A Brighter Future

New temporary bus stops are in place in Middelburg Square and behind Sainsbury’s on Bouverie Road West following the bus station closure as part of the Folkestone – A Brighter Future regeneration work.

Stagecoach has developed maps, a dedicated webpage and put up posters with details of all temporary stops following the closure on 21 September.. 

The new linear layout of the bus station will be safer for pedestrians, while the completed scheme will offer real-time digital information on bus arrival times and new shelters with livings roofs.

Seventy new trees are being planted across the different areas of the development work. Nine of the trees will be in Sandgate Road to replace the four that are being removed to enable the delivery of the wider regeneration project. These trees will be semi-mature, approximately five meters in height and alongside them will be planters and new seating.

New homes on the horizon

An outline planning application for up to 135 new homes on brownfield land on the former Ship Street gasworks in Folkestone has been submitted by the council.

The proposal is for up to 135 homes (22% of which would be affordable), non-residential floorspace, a new pocket park, a vehicle-free green link, car and cycle parking and other associated works.

Highview Development Company is to build new homes on council-owned land in Moat Farm Road, Folkestone after buying the 2.25-acre plot for £800,000. 

The purchase is due to bring forward 30 new homes, of which 22% will be affordable, on the land which the council had intended to develop itself.

Rising interest rates and construction costs made it unviable for the local authority to bring it forward itself, deciding to prepare and de-risk the site for the market instead.

The Warren in Folkestone 

Network Rail is carrying out work over the autumn and winter to upgrade the sea defences and repair part of the footpath.

It is bringing in 18,000 tonnes of rock to the western beach to protect against erosion and stabilise the area, protecting both the track and the Warren itself.

Whilst the work is underway a signed diversion is in place for those walking in the area.

Consultations

The consultation inviting input on the proposed Council Tax Reduction scheme is open until 26 October.

The scheme aims to help working age people on low incomes to pay their Council Tax.

Find out more about the proposals  here Consultation proposals/background information and the online survey can be found via this link.

Consultations on changes to parking and traffic regulations can be found on the council website Parking – Folkestone & Hythe District Council

Current ones include proposals to change a number of waiting restrictions on Folkestone sea front and a loading ban at the lower end of Radnor Cliff in Sandgate.