Otterpool Park is a new garden town being created in the Kent countryside; it will be a place to lead a healthy, active, sustainable lifestyle in a creative, inclusive and vibrant community.
For more information on the vision for the Otterpool Park project visit otterpoolpark.org
Delivering Otterpool Park
Folkestone & Hythe District Council (F&HDC) have entered into a collaboration agreement with Homes England to accelerate the delivery of Otterpool Park garden town.
The agreement runs for six months from 1 February 2025 and there is provision for this to be extended for a further three months should both parties agree.
Homes England and F&HDC will collaborate for the duration of the agreement to review the work done so far and undertake further work to inform investment opportunities to support and enable the delivery of development.
The work F&HDC and Homes England undertake together will include an updated delivery strategy, a phasing plan, a financial business plan, a planning strategy and a cost infrastructure delivery plan - all things that are essential to the acceleration and successful delivery of Otterpool Park.
Frequently asked questions about the collaboration agreement
What is the collaboration agreement?
Homes England and F&HDC have decided to collaborate to accelerate the delivery of Otterpool Park by jointly progressing the initial work that needs to be undertaken before the scheme begins. Homes England has also agreed to contribute equally towards upfront costs to help drive the project forward, but the difference will be repaid to Homes England over time. The collaboration agreement formalises this arrangement and gives it an end date.
Why have Homes England got involved?
For a good reason - their mission is to unlock potential and accelerate change by working with partners to facilitate high quality homes and thriving places that are in tune with nature.
They’ve recognised the massive potential of Otterpool Park to provide new homes in a sustainable way whilst still retaining 50% green space on the site and delivering a 20% biodiversity gain.
Homes England also already own land in the area of the Otterpool Park development so they have an interest in seeing new homes delivered.
Why are we entering into a collaboration agreement?
Homes England is the government’s housing and regeneration agency. With them onboard Otterpool Park can be delivered faster by having more funding available along with the expertise of a specialist government agency. A collaboration agreement formalises this agreement and gives it an end date.
Who is Homes England?
Homes England is the government’s housing and regeneration agency and believes that affordable, quality homes in well-designed places are key to improving people’s lives. Together with partners, we’re accelerating the pace of house building and regeneration across the country, as we seek to deliver homes and places people are proud to live in – for generations to come.
Are Homes England now paying for Otterpool Park to be delivered?
Homes England have agreed to pay initially 50% of costs incurred through the collaboration agreement, with the recovery mechanism referenced above. They have also agreed to contribute towards a share of costs to help drive the project forward. Homes England will be paying a proportional share (10.7%) of reasonable planning costs incurred by F&HDC and OPLLP. This will not include planning costs associated with the local plan.
How long does the collaboration agreement last?
The agreement runs for six months from 1 February 2025 to 30 July 2025. There is provision for this to be extended for a further three months should both parties agree.
What is happening?
Work is already underway and has been since the beginning of 2025. There are multiple workstreams each working on their area of expertise. A Project Director has been appointed by Homes England & F&HDC to oversee the project working alongside the Managing Director of OPLLP.
Is it good news?
Yes. It means the Otterpool Park garden town is closer to starting on site and providing high quality homes and a new sustainable community in the district. Every year F&HDC need to meet the government’s targets for new houses. Concentrating new houses in one well-planned area and ensuring there is the necessary infrastructure to support the new community will mean OP is a distinctive well-designed place to live and work.
I thought Otterpool Park was going to have 10,000 new homes? Why are you only talking about 8,500 now?
On Tuesday 4 April 2023 F&HDC’s Planning and Licensing Committee resolved to grant planning permission, subject to specific conditions including a s106 agreement(s) for the latest version of the Otterpool Park planning application on Tuesday 4 April 2023.
This planning application is for 8,500 homes, but the masterplan takes up to 10,000 homes into account. It sets the framework for longer-term growth and includes all the land within the proposed site allocation.
What does the collaboration agreement mean for Otterpool Park?
Otterpool Park is likely to be happen more quickly with the involvement of Homes England and F&HDC and OPLLP are both very happy to have them aboard.
Why has Otterpool Park taken so long so far?
Such complex large-scale projects take a long time to develop, particularly garden towns where community is at the heart of the scheme. The scale of the development at Otterpool Park is significant and there are many partners and landowners to engage with during the process.
When work begins on site it will be completed in phases over a period of several decades.
What about local government reorganisation?
Although Otterpool Park will be progressed quicker we’re still talking about a significant project that’s likely to be delivered in phases. Local government reorganisation will not affect F&HDC until 2027 by which time the first phase of Otterpool Park could be underway.
Otterpool Park has already been recognised by all Kent councils as an important development project in their representations to government on local government reorganisation.
Is this related to the Government’s target for an extra 1.5 million homes?
No, discussion around Homes England’s involvement started before the General Election however larger settlements such as Otterpool are one of the best ways to provide significant numbers of new homes.