A new public square at the foot of the historic Leas Lift will form part of the next phase of the regeneration of Folkestone seafront.

The Folkestone Harbour & Seafront Development Company (FHSDC), which is led by billionaire philanthropist Sir Roger De Haan, has unveiled its vision for the next stage of the masterplan to transform the town's coastline.

It proposes a public space in front of the lower station of the cliff railway, which will be restored to operation if a total of £5 million can be raised.

FHSDC is contributing £750,000 to the project to restore the water-balance lift, in addition to money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Architectural Heritage Fund and Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC).

The next phase of the project also includes 13 flats in a building with access to underground private storage and car parking.

Paulo Kingston-Correia, general manager at FHSDC, said: "We have already made significant investment in the harbour and seafront, helping to improve the area and change its fortunes.

"We are proud that our work has already helped to create new and attractive spaces that local people and visitors can enjoy, including the Harbour Arm, viaduct walkway, restored station platforms and buildings, and beach boardwalk.

"It is hard to imagine now that the site was derelict, in a state of disrepair and inaccessible to the public before it was purchased and the masterplan achieved unanimous approval to be developed."

A public exhibition is being held at Customs House in Folkestone Harbour from 2pm to 7.30pm on Thursday and Friday, with experts from the project team on hand to answer questions.

"We are keen to hear from local people before we submit our latest plans to Folkestone and Hythe District Council," Mr Kingston-Correia said.

"We want to provide a publicly accessible and commercially sustainable harbour and seafront and this consultation is the next step in the planning process towards that.

"Although the masterplan for Folkestone harbour and seafront was approved in 2015, with further amendments in 2018, it only establishes the location, size and uses of buildings. It does not cover the finer detail so that's what we're now consulting on."

For more information on the plans and to provide feedback click here.