KentOnline

bannermobile

News

Sport

Business

What's On

Advertise

Contact

Other KM sites

CORONAVIRUS WATCH KMTV LIVE SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTERS LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS LISTEN TO KMFM
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
News

Building urban skate centre F51 in Folkestone likened to completing giant jigsaw puzzle

By: Sam Williams swilliams@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 02 August 2020

Work completing a one-of-a-kind skate park in Folkestone has been compared to finishing a giant jigsaw puzzle.

New pictures show how progress is being made at F51, the multi-million pound urban sports park being built on the corner of Tontine Street and Dover Road.

The new urban sports park in Folkestone, F51, is progressing well. All pictures: Matt Rowe Photography

The facade panels have been fitted on the first floor, with work now starting to move up to level two.

But the installation is complex work, as each piece has to be added one-by-one.

Ella Brocklebank, business development manager at Folkestone-based Jenner, the lead contractor on the project, said: "The team certainly have their hands full managing what can only be described as a giant jigsaw as the panels piece together one-by-one and will continue to do so floor-by-floor.

mpu1

"But they remain unrelenting in their enthusiasm and determination to bring design aspirations to life in the built form to deliver this flagship community-focused building.

"It is going to look fabulous!"

The exterior panels are now being added to the multi-storey centre

The unique centre will dedicate two floors to skating and will include suspended skating bowls and huge expanses of exposed concrete.

It will also be home to climbing and bouldering areas, a reception, cafe, boxing area, shower and changing facilities.

Over the years, it has received celebrity endorsements from American rapper MC Hammer and pro-skater Bam Margera.

The project has been funded and developed by the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust as part of a wave of regeneration plans for the town.

It has been in the pipeline since 2015 but its completion has been delayed several times due to its complex design, escalating costs, issues with cladding and Covid-19.

Work was temporarily halted due to Covid-19, but has now re-started on site
Work continues at the sports park
The centre will dedicate two floors to skating
The sports centre has been described as one-of-a-kind
When complete, it will also include climbing and bouldering areas, cafe, boxing area and changing facilities
Fitting the cladding has been compared to completing a jigsaw puzzle
It is not yet known when the centre will open

It will ultimately be managed by the Shepway Sports Trust.

mpu2

It was hoped the site would be open this summer, but it is currently not known when it will open to the public.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

Read more

More by this author

sticky

© KM Group - 2024