The beautiful sea view from our Grade II-listed Victorian townhouses has now been blocked by this modern ‘eyesore’
- EXCLUSIVE: Historic townhouses overshadowed by new luxury flats complex
- ‘Shoreline Development’ is part of wider plans to regenerate Folkestone, Kent
Residents in Grade-II listed Victorian townhouses on the seafront of a trendy resort are furious after an ‘eyesore’ development ‘blocked’ their view of the coast.
Dating back to 1870, Marine Crescent in the popular seaside town of Folkestone, Kent, was originally built as 14 dwellings, but has since been converted into 91 contemporary apartments.
In 2004, the six-storey cream building, which boasts bay windows and Juliet balconies overlooking the beach, was restored to its former glory.
But now the historic townhouses are being overshadowed by a brand new luxury apartment complex consisting of 84 apartments, townhouses, duplexes and penthouses.
The ‘Shoreline Development’ is part of wider plans to regenerate the town by the Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company, which has already repaired and restored heritage assets such as the Harbour Arm, the old station, viaduct, signal box and lighthouse.
The historic townhouses are being overshadowed by a brand new luxury apartment complex consisting of 84 apartments, townhouses, duplexes and penthouses
In 2004, the six-storey cream building, which boasts bay windows and Juliet balconies overlooking the beach, was restored to its former glory
The ‘Shoreline Development’ is part of wider plans to regenerate the town by the Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company
According to the developer’s website, prospective buyers can expect ‘unrivalled views across the Channel’.
But disgruntled residents in Marine Crescent have been left fuming after learning that Shoreline will ‘obscure’ their own views of the coast.
Tenant Ruth Ingleton, 42, who has lived in her flat for almost nine years, labelled the apartment complex an ‘eyesore’.
She said: ‘It’s not in keeping with the rest of the town at all, it’s an eyesore.
‘And I’m going to completely lose my sea view, which I’m quite upset about.
‘Some of the people here bought their properties because they were advertised as having a sea view. It’s ridiculous.’
The custom sales manager, 42, now fears Marine Crescent will also be sold to developers eventually – leaving her without a home.
She added: ‘We’ve got an inkling they’re going to buy this building too.
Tenant Ruth Ingleton, 42, who has lived in her flat for almost nine years, labelled the apartment complex an ‘eyesore’
Disgruntled residents in Marine Crescent have been left fuming after learning that Shoreline will ‘obscure’ their own views of the coast
‘But these new flats are not affordable for locals. The two beds are going for about £668,000. What sort of people can afford that?’
Ruth said a number of residents have already moved from the crescent as a result of rising rent prices since work began on the new development.
She added: ‘My rent went up by £125 a month a few months back. I’m on a rolling tenancy so that’s fixed until November but when that runs out, I’m screwed.
‘One of my friends who lived downstairs was paying £650 and they wanted £1,200. She had to move because she just couldn’t afford it.
‘I’ve been looking for somewhere else since last year but trying to find something I can afford is so hard.
‘I will be upset when I lose my sea view, but there’s a lot more to it than just that.
‘So many people have moved out – it’s taken away our little community.’
One of the tenants who felt forced to move due to rising rent prices was Lisa Hallett’s mother-in-law.
Folkestone Harbour is one Kent’s most famous fishing villages and has played a key part in British history – being used by 44,000 personel during the Dunkirk evacuation
According to the developer’s website, prospective buyers can expect ‘unrivalled views across the Channel’
A number of residents have already moved from the crescent as a result of rising rent prices since work began on the new development
On Friday Lisa was helping to move the pensioner’s belongings out of the Marine Crescent flat she has lived in for the past 15 years.
She said: ‘Almost everyone in this crescent has had their rent put up.
‘My mother-in-law has lived here since 2008. She has her grandson living with her after his mum passed away, and this has always been their home.
‘She was paying in the region of £700 a month but now they’re asking for £1300 – almost double – and she just can’t afford it.
‘This new development is pushing all the prices up. A lot of people have already moved out because they can’t afford to live here anymore.
‘And finding somewhere else is difficult too because so many people are listing their properties on AirBnB so there’s nothing to buy or rent.’
Lisa said she is concerned there is a lack of infrastructure in Folkestone to support the people moving into the development.
She added: ‘Traffic is already a big issue here – especially with the current construction traffic – and that’s only going to get worse because this new development will bring so many more people to the area.
Brendan Mcguire, who has lived in Folkestone his whole life, also said he was worried the influx of new property owners will put pressure on local amenities such as doctor’s surgeries
There are concerns from residents that there is a lack of infrastructure in Folkestone to support the people moving into the development
‘It used to be such a nice little seaside town, but it’s getting too big.’
Brendan Mcguire, who has lived in Folkestone his whole life, also said he was worried the influx of new property owners will put pressure on local amenities such as doctor’s surgeries.
The 58-year-old shuttering carpenter said: ‘People are already struggling to see a doctor or get school places. Some of the kids round here are being sent to schools miles away because we’re so overcrowded.
‘Where are all these thousands of new people going to go?
‘I don’t blame people moving down from London but they are not doing anything to improve the infrastructure.’
Dad-of-two Brendan is also concerned areas of the pebbled beach may become exclusive for residents of the new development.
He added: ‘I’ve heard they’re on about making some of this beach private for residents only, but how can a beach possibly be private land?
‘We’ve always walked up and down here, as long as I can remember. I grew up seeing the fairgrounds and markets here, going to the skating ring and swimming in the sea.
Dating back to 1870, Marine Crescent in the popular seaside town of Folkestone, Kent, was originally built as 14 dwellings, but has since been converted into 91 contemporary apartments
Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Development Company has already repaired and restored heritage assets such as the Harbour Arm, the old station, (pictured) viaduct, signal box and lighthouse
‘I spent all my summers on these beaches – I can’t see how they can get away with building on here.
‘Marine Crescent has been there since before I was born. People bought those houses on the condition of getting a sea view. Now all they’re going to see is the back of those flats.
‘It’s an absolute eyesore. I would be absolutely gutted if I lived there.’
The 58-year-old is also worried the pricey properties will push locals out of the town.
Brendan said: ‘There’s no way locals can afford these places. None of it is affordable housing.
‘But there’s nothing we can do to stop it because there’s a lot of money involved. It’s sheer greed.’
Charity worker Alice Williams, 28, moved into a rented flat in Marine Crescent in February. She said the new development has put her off staying in the property in the long-term.
She added: ‘It’s a very different style of building – it’s not in keeping with the crescent at all. And we have such a nice view of the sea at the moment which will be completely obscured.
Shelagh Hodder, who is originally from nearby Wye, was visiting Folkestone to see her granddaughters Isabelle Whitnall, 11, and Amber-Rose Whitnall, nine. The part-time teacher and library volunteer believes the new apartments will be snapped up as second homes, leaving no properties for locals
Some locals are concerned areas of the pebbled beach may become exclusive for residents of the new development
‘We’re not thinking of staying here for long, but if I was looking to live here in the long-term, I wouldn’t be happy about them building all along the sea front. It would certainly put me off buying.’
Shelagh Hodder, who is originally from nearby Wye, was visiting Folkestone to see her granddaughters Isabelle Whitnall, 11, and Amber-Rose Whitnall, nine.
The part-time teacher and library volunteer believes the new apartments will be snapped up as second homes, leaving no properties for locals.
She said: ‘It’s absolutely disgraceful – it’s far too big. I think they will all just end up being people’s second homes too unfortunately, because there’s no affordable housing for local residents.
‘It’s bad for the community – they’re just glorified tourists. They won’t be there half the time, so they won’t be the type of people that you can borrow sugar from or who go round to help when the elderly lady next door falls over.’
Rachel Era, 46, and her husband Francois, 49, moved to Folkestone from London three-years-ago.
The couple, who are originally from France, said the new development is ‘ruining’ the landscape.
Carpenter Francois said: ‘It’s going to ruin the views and the landscape. It’s so ugly.’
Rachel Era, 46, and her husband Francois, 49, moved to Folkestone from London three-years-ago
The couple, who are originally from France, said the new development is ‘ruining’ the landscape
Financial officer Rachel added: ‘The plans looked beautiful, but the actual building doesn’t look as great.
‘I can see it would be good for business and tourists, but on the other hand there’s going to be a lot more people.
‘It’s already a nightmare to park around here. I think we were better off without it.’
But not everyone feels as negatively about the new development.
Some locals believe it will bring more business into the area and put Folkestone on the map.
Ally Baines, who is a supervisor at beachfront restaurant Little Rock, said: ‘We really like it. It’s going to bring in more business for us.
‘They’re really expensive apartments, so the type of people living there will bring more money to the town.’
Grant Turner, who has lived in Folkestone for 10 years and manages The Pilot Bar nextdoor, believes the town is changing for the better
Some locals believe it will bring more business into the area and put Folkestone on the map
He said: ‘I can remember Folkestone being a mass of congregated iron when I was a kid but it’s really up-and-coming now.
‘In the last five years in particular, it has changed so much.
‘The new development will bring in a lot more business for us.’
Pensioner John Harris, 72, who has lived in Marine Crescent for more than two decades, also welcomes the change.
He said: ‘We’ve known they were planning to develop along here for the last 20 years.
‘The size has always been in question – I think it was originally planned to be a lot bigger, but they’ve scaled it back.
‘I don’t object to it at all – I think it will make Folkestone a great place to live. It will be much better to have a nice, upmarket development than all this empty space.
‘And the flats they’re building are expensive so it will probably bring a lot of money into the area.’
Electrician Craig Honzik, 64, who has lived in Marine Crescent for four years, added: ‘It doesn’t bother me at all.
‘But I can see why people further down the crescent might object to it, because it completely blocks their view of the sea.’
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