FOLCA 1 saved, as ICB negotiate to use FOLCA 2 for medical centre
The proposed medical centre for FOLCA 1 is no longer viable and will not be going ahead. This means FOLCA 1 will not be demolished. Another piece of Folkestone Heritage saved. However, the Council are now in negotiations with the Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) to occupy FOLCA 2, the art deco part of the building. There will be no demolition of FOLCA 2
FOLCA 1 is the Edwardian part of the building in Orange. This part of the building, is the part the New Folkestone Society wish to save. The FOLCA 2, is the Art Deco part of the building marked in purple.
FOLCA (previously Debenhams) – Google My Maps
FOLCA 1 Edwardian = Orange FOLCA 2 Art Deco = Purple
One of the reasons that the medical center will not be at FOLCA One is the Kent & Medway ICB wanted 3,000 sq meters of floor space and after they scrutinized the space, it turns out only circa 2,000 sq meters was available.
To meet the 3,000 sq metre the ICB would have needed to demolish FOLCA 1 and the cost of a rebuild was too high due to higher interest rates and building costs, according to Council Officer Rod Lean at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 28 May 2024.
In Sept 2021, FOLCA 1 was slated to become a new state of the art medical centre. Manor Rd and Guildhall Street Surgeries were to merge and occupy the space. There partnership Premier Primary Care Ltd were to be offered a 150 year lease. The project was to “achieve the Council strategic objectives” by “re-purposing a Council asset, diversifying the range of uses in the town center, generating additional footfall and attracting private investment“
Back in August 2022, the New Folkestone Society (NFS) ran a survey and the results showed 87% of over 1,500 entries surveyed said ‘no’ to demolition. NFS placed high value on this section, not only through its location and contribution to the street scenery but it also matches other cherished buildings in Sandgate Road.
FOLCA One then appears to be saved through a mixture of people power and non-viability.
As we said though, the Council are now in negotiations with the ICB to occupy FOLCA 2, the art deco part of the building (in purple above).
FOLCA 1, and FOLCA 2 remain empty and have done so since the Council purchased the building in May 2020. The Council’s dream of re-purposing the site and generating additional footfall and attracting private investment remains unfulfilled four years on. Much time, effort and money has been spent on consultants for the building, yet to date there is little to nothing to show for it, except an empty building which is slowly decaying.
The Shepway Vox Team
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Since Debenhams closed, I’ve always thought the building could be fairly readily repurposed as the main Folkestone library and would be in a better location.
There is also a 19.8 per cent increase from February 2023 when the average private rent was £807 a month according to kentlive. My own rent has gone up about 15%. I guess I’m lucky!
I’m glad to read that the Edwardian section will no longer be demolished, but it’s still an idiotic place to put a GP surgery. There must be somewhere more suitable.