Folkestone Town Council has secured the freehold of 2 Grace Hill, the former home of Folkestone Library and a building with a special place in the town’s history.
Following constructive negotiations with Kent County Council, ownership of this important local asset has been transferred to Folkestone Town Council, ensuring that its future remains in community hands and that the building can continue to serve residents for generations to come.
The acquisition marks a significant milestone in protecting one of Folkestone’s most recognisable civic buildings and lays the foundations for an exciting programme of restoration, community engagement and regeneration.
Working with local partners and the community, Folkestone Town Council has developed a shared vision for the future of the building:
Generations of residents remember 2 Grace Hill as their library. A central ambition is to create a modern, fit-for-purpose space that could one day welcome the public library back to its historic home.
Folkestone has earned an international reputation as a creative town. The vision for Grace Hill includes space for cultural and creative industries, supporting artists, makers, organisations and creative businesses.
The building will provide opportunities for social and community use, creating welcoming, inclusive spaces that support the town’s vibrant voluntary and community sector.
Alongside these ambitions, partners are committed to developing a sustainable long-term model that protects the building’s future while respecting its heritage and historic importance.
To help guide the project, a Grace Hill Steering Group has been established, bringing together partners around the shared vision for the building.
At its first meeting, the group considered a range of priorities, including:
· Returning the public library to Grace Hill
· Supporting cultural and creative industries
· Creating inclusive community spaces
· Developing a sustainable long-term future for the building
· Establishing a community engagement programme to ensure local people can help shape plans
This collaborative approach will help ensure that the future of Grace Hill reflects the aspirations of the people of Folkestone.
While longer-term plans are being developed, Folkestone Town Council has already undertaken a number of practical improvements to enhance the appearance of the building.
These include:
· Cleaning the shared entrance
· Weeding and tidying the front of the building
· Cleaning external windows
· Refreshing and cleaning old noticeboards
These initial works are helping to restore pride in the building and demonstrate the Council’s commitment to its future.
The future of 2 Grace Hill will be shaped with the community, not simply for the community.
Over the coming months, Folkestone Town Council and its partners will develop a programme of engagement activities that celebrate the building’s history, explore new opportunities and gather ideas from residents, stakeholders and local organisations.
There will be opportunities for local people to:
· Share memories and stories of the building
· Help shape future uses and priorities
· Participate in engagement events and activities
· Contribute ideas for the building’s regeneration
The acquisition of 2 Grace Hill represents a major investment in Folkestone’s future.
By bringing the building back into community ownership, Folkestone Town Council has secured the opportunity to create a vibrant, welcoming and sustainable space that celebrates the building’s heritage while meeting the needs of modern Folkestone.
This is just the beginning of the journey, and we look forward to sharing further updates as plans progress.
More information about community engagement events, project milestones and opportunities to get involved will be published here as the project develops.
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Folkestone Town Council is closed from 24th December for the holidays and will reopen on Monday 5th January, with the Town Hall reopening on Tuesday 6th January with the usual opening times of 10am – 4pm. Please note that Folkestone Museum will reopen on Saturday 3rd January.
In the case of an emergency, such as a threat to health and safety, please call the Folkestone and Hythe District Council emergency number on 0300 003 0247.
Season’s greetings.