Saga is to close its Kent headquarters as a result of changes to working patterns following the pandemic.

The over-50s travel and insurance giant currently operates its head office at Enbrook Park in Sandgate, near Folkestone, but the number of workers using the site has fallen significantly amid increased working from home.

Announcing the decision to shut the office from March 17, the company today revealed that the site - designed and built to accommodate around 1,000 employees - currently sees approximately 120 people use the office more than twice a week. Overall usage currently sits at approximately 17%.

In an email to Sandgate Liberal Democrat councillor Tim Prater, seen by KentOnline, the firm's CEO Euan Sutherland said the business will now "operate from a number of smaller office hubs with colleagues also able to work from home".

These hubs will include a current base in central London and two planned locations in Kent.

Confirming the news of the closure, Mr Sutherland said: "As part of a wider investment in office hubs to support Saga's business growth, the decision has been made to close Saga's Enbrook Park office.

"Rather than one large office, Saga will open a number of office hubs, two of which will be in Kent and one existing hub is located in London at Kings Cross.

"This reflects a successful transition to hybrid home/hub working and supports an ambitious growth strategy. Saga remains committed to Kent and Folkestone where the majority of its colleagues live.”

In 2021 Saga applied successfully for 'prior approval' to convert the main building at Enbrook, which enjoys prime views over the village and English Channel, into around 60 flats.

Other properties, including the former HQ in the centre of Folkestone, Bouverie House, were also put up for sale as the impact of the pandemic reduced the need for office space.

The company has been unable to comment on the future of those satellite offices which went on the market, but says "discussions" remain ongoing.

"Not the news I wanted this morning," said a dismayed Cllr Prater following this morning's news of the closure of the Enbrook site.

"I'm particularly disappointed given the number of times that Saga management and Euan himself have told me directly how committed they were to Enbrook Park, including making a multi-million pound investment in the building and site since 2020.

"Less committed than they claimed, it seems.

"I have already responded to Euan expressing my sadness at their move.

"We wait to see what comes forward in terms on new uses of the site, and notwithstanding the 'permitted development' permission they hold to convert the main building into flats, I fail to see how that is remotely a good use of the building or space.

"We want to see all existing green areas of Enbrook Park retained, maintained and respected."

The travel company has strong ties to Folkestone, having been founded by Sidney De Haan from a hotel in the town in 1951.

Two of his sons, Peter and (now Sir) Roger De Haan, took over the business in 1984.

The family sold the entire Saga Group to a management buyout in 2004 for £1.35 billion.

Sir Roger has since invested millions of pounds in the redevelopment of Folkestone, including up to 1,000 new homes currently being built on the seafront.

He was knighted in 2014 for services to education and to charity in Kent and overseas.