Start Me Up

Four years ago, the former Silver Spring site sat empty. The Herald ran a story about how the derelict Silver Spring site in Folkestone will look after much needed redevelopment. Four years on the site remains a blot on the landscape. The much heralded development has stalled, and its only occupants are the birds and the bees.

The land was purchased on the 24/10/2014 by Ravensbourne Gateway Limited for the princely sum of £5,428,000. The lender was Ravensbourne Holding S.A.R.L (Luxembourg), renamed Mutanderis 100 Ltd, who according to Companies House have a charge on the land. Ravensbounre Holdings S.A.R.L is owned by Adrian Kirby (pictured) and Atlantic Investments Ltd registered in the Cook Islands (an known offshore tax haven). Ravensbourne Gateway Ltd changed it’s name to Mutanderis 100 Ltd, in Oct 2019. On the 4 May 2021, Mutanderis 100 was quietly dissolved via voluntary strike-off.

However, in Oct 2016 Channex Ltd was incorporated which is owned by Channex Holdings Ltd, who in turn are owned by Mr Adrian Kirby, who resides in Verbier Switzerland. The charge on the land was transferred from Ravensbourne Gateway Limited to Channex Ltd on the 13 April 2018 and registered with Companies House on the 4 May 2018.

Once again, Mr Kirby via his companies, Channex Ltd & Channex Holdings Ltd  is promoting the site, this time with Savills and Smith Wooley.

In 2018 there were promises of a large hotel to be taken on by a “well known global operator”, a glass fronted drive-thru KFC and a possible Costa Coffee, plus phase one creating more than 200 jobs, and create 400 to 500 job opportunities, once completed, the developers said.

But today the site sits empty. What would you use it for?

Any ideas you may have can always be forwarded to Mr Antony Hawker, Managing Director of ECIT Accountants, – antony dot hawker[at] ecit dot uk – asking him to pass your suggestions along to Mr Kirby.

One understands that developments take time, but after four years of nothing, something must now be done with this blot on the landscape. It should be a  positive contribution and useful for the people of Folkestone and the surrounding area. What would you suggest.

The Shepway Vox Team

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