We've long-held ambitions to replace our popular - but old and failing swimming pool in Hythe.
The Princes Parade scheme is due to progress once market conditions are more favourable. All outstanding pre-commencement planning conditions will be satisfied and some material works carried out to ensure the permission is implemented.
Back in 2012 Princes Parade - a former municipal waste tip - was identified as the preferred location for this development. The scheme was approved by district councillors on 16 August 2018.
There have been years of careful deliberation, public consultation and painstaking preparation involved in this project. You can find out about this complex history through our Princes Parade timeline
The Princes Parade development is mentioned in our new Corporate Plan 2021 - 2030 confirming the importance of this development to our plan for evolution of the district.
We think the residents of Hythe and the wider district deserve a new swimming pool and leisure facilities fit for the 21st century. Improving physical and mental wellbeing is one of our key priorities for the next three years as part of our commitment to positive community leadership in our new Corporate Plan.
The development also includes quality homes to meet local needs, new public parks and better access to the canal and beach. In this the development aligns with our other service ambition of creating quality homes and infrastructure.
As we've recently had our planning decision for the Princes Parade development upheld by the high court we can now go ahead and proceed with the development.
We're excited for this project to:
- optimise the development of an underused site at a sustainable location within the Hythe and Folkestone urban area
- deliver a new leisure centre to replace the existing Hythe pool, which is no longer fit for purpose, and provide enhanced indoor leisure facilities for the community
- create a large public park with a variety of potential uses, including active and passive recreation and children's play
- create a substantial vehicle free, southfacing seafront promenade for the enjoyment of residents and visitors
- provide up to 150 quality homes to meet the growing need for new housing in the Folkestone & Hythe district, including up to 45 affordable units
- introduce active uses (restaurant, café, hotel) to bring vitality and sense of place to Princes Parade and expand the range of facilities available to local people and visitors
- respect the site context, in particular the Royal Military Canal and residential properties, through a sensitive approach to the siting, height and appearance of new buildings
- include a package of measures to restore, repair, manage and interpret the canal as an important Scheduled Ancient Monument
- enable the remediation and return to public use of a contaminated site
- create new, and improve existing, walking and cycling connections across the site to facilitate access to the Royal Military Canal and beach
- safeguard the site's key ecological features and introduce new habitat to encourage native species to flourish
Princes Parade: Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about the history and timeline of Princes Parade.