Folkestone and Hythe has a rich and diverse historic landscape with many sites and buildings of significant interest.
The Folkestone & Hythe District Heritage Strategy was commissioned by the council to highlight the range and importance of the district’s heritage assets and to ensure that they play a clear and positive role in its future. The strategy with its supporting theme papers and additional studies was originally compiled by consultants at Kent County Council as an evidence base document for the council’s local plan. The strategy was updated in 2024 to take account of changes to planning legalisation, the economic environment and to make it more accessible. In February 2025 it was subject to a short focused consultation exercise, which proved to be a very effective means of checking the content and gathering information. The Folkestone & Hythe District Heritage Strategy is available here.
The strategy is a document based around heritage features that make a particular contribution to local character or have played a role in the development of the district; for example, landscape, coastal heritage and defence heritage.
The strategy is seen as an evolving document, which will develop further over time.
Further information for applications regarding Listed Building and Conservation Areas can be found on our planning pages.
Theme papers
You can access the theme papers here.