A plot of land bought by a council to host a large housing estate will now be sold to give the development the best chance of happening.
Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) took over the former gasworks in Ship Street, Folkestone, in March 2021 – having watched it lie derelict since the 1950s.
But having bought it for £400,000, and spent a further £820,000 ahead of submitting official plans for 150 homes, the council says it must now sell the 3.8-acre plot to make sure the “vital regeneration scheme” actually goes ahead.
Though the decision to offload the land was made in January, the site has only recently gone on the market – with an unknown price tag.
A council spokesperson said the “value is for the market to decide”, with agents Avison Young listing it as price on application.
The estate agent says “given its size, location, and proximity to transport links and local amenities, the site presents a significant opportunity for residential development within an established community”.
If FHDC’s forecast is accurate, it is expected to cost a developer between £41-£43 million to build the estate – though they could benefit from a £2.5 million government brownfield release grant.
An application for outline planning permission, which would include a policy-compliant affordable homes quota of 22%, is being prepared by council officers.
When agreeing previously to push forward with the development of the site, the authority said it would like it to also host cafes, shops, and a cultural space.
It had initially been hoped the whole site would be dedicated to council housing and shared ownership schemes, but alternative methods to deliver the project were preferred.
“This approach is required to optimise the attractiveness of the site across the market, in terms of the ability for developers to bring forward their own schemes within the parameters of an outline consent,” said the council.
“The approval of the site disposal is required to enable the market to bring forward this vital regeneration scheme.”
The gasworks were owned by the Folkestone Gas Company, founded in 1842 by Ralph Thomas Brockman.
The operation moved to the land in Ship Street in 1888, ceased functioning in 1956, and demolition was carried out in phases between 1960 and 2001.
A FHDC spokesperson said: “Cabinet members agreed the amended delivery strategy for the site in January 2025 – a move that will enable a developer partner to bring forward this vital regeneration scheme and deliver much-needed housing.
“It was put on the market earlier last week and interested parties are encouraged to get in touch through agents Avison Young.”
