Have Your Say on Princes Parade: Council Hosts Public Drop-in Sessions Amid Calls to Protect Open Space

Residents are being invited to shape the future of Princes Parade at two public drop-in sessions tomorrow & Saturday, as Folkestone & Hythe District Council renews efforts to engage the community over the long-disputed 18-acre site in Seabrook.

The sessions—held at Hythe Town Hall – pictured – on Friday 4 July (4pm–7pm) and Saturday 5 July (10am–1pm)—offer an opportunity for locals to discuss any aspect of the site. While all topics are welcome, the council expects particular interest in the future of Seapoint Canoe Club, Seabrook Park’s play equipment, and the adjacent car park.

Hythe ward councillors Jim Martin, Anita Jones and Rich Holgate will be in attendance throughout the sessions to listen to residents’ views.

Cllr Jim Martin, who also serves as Leader of the Council, said:

“Princes Parade is a subject which has dominated the local conversation for 15 years, so it’s right to ensure everybody with an opinion has the chance to share it with us.

This event isn’t about us presenting ideas – it’s about having a chat and hearing what the people of Seabrook, Hythe and beyond have to say.”

The initiative follows the release of a recent public consultation report, which showed strong support for preserving the current open space. Of the 1,472 people who responded, 64% said enhancing biodiversity was “very important,” and over half favoured keeping the land open and undeveloped. Respondents also highlighted the value of the area for walking, wildlife, play, and community events.

A Site with a Complex Past

Princes Parade has long been a flashpoint in local planning, with arguments stretching back over two decades. Originally reclaimed from landfill, the land was the subject of a failed 2009 application to designate it as a village green—a move rejected by Kent County Council in 2011. Since then, its future has been a political and environmental battleground.

In the years that followed, Folkestone & Hythe District Council proposed a large-scale development including housing, a leisure centre, and public amenities. The scheme provoked significant local opposition, not only over fears of environmental damage but also concerns around flood risk, contaminated land, and rising construction costs.

Planning permission was granted in 2019, but implementation stalled repeatedly. By 2022, the cost of the scheme had surged past £48 million, prompting the council to pause the development and reconsider its approach amid economic uncertainty.

A 2023 public objection raised further questions over the scheme’s financial assumptions. The council’s external auditor, Grant Thornton, agreed the objection had merit, casting further doubt over the viability of the original plans.

A Crossroads for the Community

With the masterplan effectively on ice, the council launched a fresh consultation in 2025 to gauge public opinion on next steps. The results show a clear shift away from large-scale construction and towards conservation, leisure, and low-impact uses.

Local campaigners and civic groups, including the Hythe Civic Society, have urged the council to treat the site as a green corridor for future generations, rather than as a commercial opportunity.

Friday & Saturday’s drop-in sessions mark the next step in what may become a full policy rethink.

Residents from Hythe, Seabrook, and across the district are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and help determine the future of this rare and much-contested coastal space.

We would be interested in hearing about your experiences of Fokestone & Hythe District Council. Email: TheShepwayVoxTeam@proton.me in confidence.

The Shepway Vox Team

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