A bid has been made for a multi-million pound youth centre to be built in Folkestone.

Kent County Council is working with the Creative Foundation in Folkestone to provide “world class facilities” for the town’s youngsters, with Payers Park, between Rendezvous Street and Tontine Street, identified as a possible site.

KCC has made an application to the Government initiative myplace, which welcomed bids between £1 million and £5 million up until the end of September.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families says the scheme will “turn ideas into reality”.

Young people in Folkestone have The Shed, near the harbour, run by the Folkestone Youth Project, but this is only a temporary centre and will close if businessman Roger De Haan’s plans to transform the seafront with a marina, luxury apartments, a ferry berth and an ice skating rink are given the go ahead, as it will be in the way.

An announcement on the bid is expected in the New Year.

Nigel Baker, the head of the Kent Youth Service with KCC, said: “We have been working with the Creative Foundation to bid for myplace funding to create an iconic youth centre for the town’s young people which they will be able to help design and to feel part of.

“The application is at the early stages but we are keen to see youth services developed in the area and await the outcome of the funding bid.”