Councillors contemplate putting Folca on market

PART OF FORMER TOWN CENTRE DEBENHAMS COULD BE SOLD

- By DANIEL ESSON

FOLKESTONE and Hythe District Council could sell off part of Folkestone's former Debenhams store - just five years after purchasing the site for £2 million.

The building, now officially renamed "Folca", was bought by the authority in 2020, just months after Debenhams moved out, and has remained mostly empty ever since.

The huge building has two parts - Folca One, the Edwardian section facing Bouverie Place; and Folca Two, the section facing Sandgate Road.

In September 2021, the council's cabinet approved plans for Folca One to be turned into a medical centre - but in November 2023 surveys revealed that part of the building would not be suitable for this use.

The authority has since agreed to explore alternative options for Folca One, which were discussed at Tuesday's overview and scrutiny committee.

A report released ahead of the meeting notes that the council considered using the building for offices, retail, and residential purposes, as well as the possibility of demolishing it and rebuilding.

Members also considered mothballing the building at a cost of £645,000.