The long-awaited start of Folkestone's seafront redevelopment will happen this year.

Folkestone Harbour Company (FHC) today revealed its work programme for the site comprising more than 1,000 homes and 10,000 sq m for retail use.

A presentation of the plans and timescale is being given to town councillors and community leaders in Folkestone this afternoon, outlining the "considerable activity" due to start.

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Preparation work has been carried out and it was decided market conditions are suitable to begin.

FHC has appointed David Crump to lead the planning and delivery of the project.

Mr Crump has previously worked on a number of regeneration projects for London-based Quintain Estates which has worked on Wembley Park and Greenwich Peninsula.

Shepway District Council agreed to the regeneration plans in July 2013 and the plans were formally granted in January 2015.

VIDEO: Project leader David Crump reveals all the details on the new Folkestone seafront development

Mr Crump said: "Research indicates that market conditions support the development of Folkestone Seafront at the current time.

"We therefore propose to move forward quickly to help trigger the full range of the socio-economic benefits we expect this project will bring.

"The scale of the development means that it will require significant new infrastructure, and it involves the creation of a high-quality environment, all of which comes at significant cost."

He continued: "During the coming months, there will be considerable activity on the site, and we shall see significant steps towards the delivery of this major new development for Folkestone and its seafront."

The project received a boost last year with a £5.1 million grant from the Regional Growth Fund, triggering the start of the work.

However, Mr Crump revealed "lower than average returns" are expected making the plans "less attractive to conventional developers".

But this is being overcome with "significant up-front funding" being provided directly from Sir Roger De Haan, Mr Crump added.

Investment has already been made in the area with Rocksalt, the fountain square and Harbour Arm - which reopens today - all bringing people down to the seafront.

Historic parts of the harbour area will be retained such as the listed railway viaduct and swing bridge, while the former harbour station will be retained as a major access route on to the Harbour Arm and development.

The former railway, which was officially closed by the Department for Transport last year, will create new public access from the northern side of the harbour.

A harbour revision order which would close the port to large commercial shipping has been applied for.

It also includes applying for permission to dredge the outer harbour and use the material to raise the level of the land for flood management by between 0.3m to one metre.

Additional shingle will be brought into to reinforce the beach making it wider and higher at its most vulnerable points.