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Striking new images of seven-storey seaside tower blocks have been revealed, just days after councillors rejected plans for 410 homes at a town’s harbour.
The latest designs are for 122 properties - mostly flats - plus a gym and a cafe on land opposite Marine Crescent, a Grade II-listed row of Victorian houses in Folkestone.
They form part of multimillionaire Sir Roger De Haan’s masterplan for the seafront, which was given outline planning permission a decade ago.
Last week, Folkestone and Hythe District Council’s planning committee defied the recommendation of officers and snubbed proposals to build homes on the harbour arm car park.
Sir Roger’s Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company (FHSDC) said it was considering how to respond. Options include appealing the decision.
Now, more details have been revealed about the firm’s plans for a section of the seafront known as Plot C1.
If approved, the new buildings between four and seven storeys high, would sit adjacent to the Shoreline Crescent apartments, which have already been built.
The designs for Plot C1 include 110 flats and townhouses, alongside two commercial units, car and cycle parking, landscaped open spaces and children’s play areas.
In total, this phase of the project would deliver 122 homes, with 35% one-bed and studio flats, 35% two-bed flats, 24% three-bed homes and 6% four-bedroom homes.
There would be 123 car parking spaces and 218 cycle spaces.
The proposals also incorporate 108 sq m of ground-floor commercial space, aimed at creating a “vibrant atmosphere” with a gym and café to serve both residents and visitors.
One key feature of the designs is a central view corridor, ensuring sightlines are preserved from Marine Crescent down to the seafront.
Public open spaces, landscaping and recreational areas are also included to “enhance the coastal environment”.
The application comes at a critical time for Sir Roger’s proposed transformation of the seafront.
The overall masterplan, first granted outline approval in 2015, allows for up to 1,000 homes to be built along Folkestone’s coastline.
However, while the overarching vision has been approved, detailed designs for each phase must still go before the council.
Last week’s rejection of the plans for 410 homes was a significant blow to Sir Roger’s vision for the harbour.
The proposals included modern homes, restaurants, and public spaces but faced backlash over claims that the properties would not be affordable for residents.
Councillors argued that the designs were out of character with the surrounding area, particularly the historic charm of the harbourfront and nearby conservation areas.
The vote itself was won by a whisker - with five councillors backing the motion to reject the plans, four opposing it and one abstaining.
Speaking after the meeting, campaigners said they were “relieved” with the result but remained sceptical that this was the end of the matter.
In rejecting the plans, councillors cited the development’s impact on heritage sites, including Marine Crescent and other listed buildings, as well as concerns about views from key vantage points around the town.
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Last Tuesday night, councillors also considered and approved plans for a five-storey residential building comprising flats and townhouses at Plot E1 - a site once partly occupied by the popular La Parisienne nightclub.
The decision on Plot C1 is expected to be made by FHDC by the end of April.