Welcome to the Folkestone Seafront website. This site provides information on the proposals and principles that will help shape the future of the Folkestone Seafront as an attractive and vibrant place for local people to be proud of and visitors to be attracted to.
In 2010 the Folkestone Harbour Company commissioned leading architects Sir Terry Farrell & Partners to draw up a Masterplan for the redevelopment of Folkestone Seafront and Harbour.
The ambition is to build upon the substantial regeneration work that has already taken place in the Creative Quarter in Folkestone’s Old Town. Once regenerated, the Seafront will increase its attractiveness to visitors and residents providing a new public realm and benefitting the local economy.
The development of Folkestone Seafront faces a number of challenges. Historically, ferries and cargo ships operated from Folkestone Harbour to various destinations and the Seafront was a popular tourist destination. By the late 1990s however, ferry operators Sea Containers Ltd decided that ferry operations had become unsustainable and the last ferry link was closed down in 2000. Tourism also declined and the fishing industry has diminished over time.
As a result of these changes, many former Seafront businesses are no longer economically viable and the Seafront has become physically disconnected from the rest of the town. The accessibility to the area is restricted by the one way and public transport systems, and there is little or no diversity of character or experience.
That said there is an enormous opportunity for Folkestone to capitalise on the benefits on offer, and with the recently opened high speed link to London and its excellent connections to Europe, Folkestone is in an exciting transitional stage of development.
Farrells have worked on a variety of high speed rail projects, including Beijing and Hong Kong and their experience has shown that high speed rail can completely transform places in a relatively short period of time, with wide ranging benefits for surrounding communities.
About Farrells
Farrell’s approach to urban design is based on the belief, ‘learn from the past to plan for the future’.
They do this by, “understanding the place, defining the challenge, articulating the vision, building consensus and realising the project” [Farrells].
The pages that follow set the context for this, and set out proposals to develop a collage of different areas each with its own character along the Seafront and Harbour.
More Information
Farrells Experience
Terry Farrell and Partners