A developer has defended his plans for an eco-friendly block of flats – with some residents worried it’s “too much for our town”.
Proposals have been submitted for a five-storey building with eye-catching ‘living walls’ on a site at West Cliff Gardens in Folkestone town centre.
But the ambitious proposals have alarmed some local residents who fear it will “destroy the area”.
The block of four flats will feature ‘vertical planting’ in a bid to complement the wooded landscape of nearby St Mary & St Eanswythe Church.
The developer, Francesco Conte, says he wants to build something on the brownfield site that reflects a “vibrant, creative emerging city”.
The apartments will have their own air source heat pumps, high insulation levels, triple-glazed windows and solar panels.
Mr Conte, director of Green Box Creative, says now is the time to build responsibly, with environmental considerations becoming “increasingly critical”.
He says the green measures will also lead to lower energy bills for residents.
“In the past, development has often featured minimal creative effort, often resulting in generic totalitarian buildings,” Conte said.
“This approach typically prioritizes cost reduction and expediency over aesthetics, sustainability and functionality, resulting in buildings that are not energy efficient or environmentally sustainable, and which can impact the urban landscape and environment.”
He says the solar panel system “will be designed with battery storage to account for 70% of each apartment’s energy use.”
Mr Conte says living walls improve air quality by filtering pollutants as well as creating habitats for different plant species, insects and birds, “supporting urban biodiversity”.
He added: “As we become more aware of climate change and the government tightens compliance, the demand for sustainable living and working spaces will increase.”
However, residents who spoke to KentOnline were unsure about the plans.
Rosemary Southon, 65, who has lived in the town for 42 years, said: “I’m not happy with the height, it’s too much for our small town.
“What about privacy for the residents who will now be overlooked?
“More attention should be paid to maintaining older buildings before adding new buildings.”
Peter Jackson, 67, regularly visits Folkestone and agrees more should be done to preserve the town’s history.
He said: “I think it will destroy the area. It will be surrounded by Victorian buildings that should be listed.
“Folkestone is a really nice town but it seems developers are being allowed to go to extremes with the amount that is being built.
“There is a lot of history here and more should be done to celebrate it.”
Paul Eldridge, 58, who moved to Folkestone during the lockdown, said: “Who is going to be able to afford these flats when they are built?
“It’s a small space with a lot of congestion and there’s already pressure on the city’s amenities.
“Could they become holiday ones? I would see an appeal, but that would mean they still remain empty.’
Planning was previously granted in 2021 for three flats on the site, but it was then sold to Green Box Creative two years later.