Kent County Council has confirmed that Folkestone in Kent will have a permanent new library and community hub opening this May 2026. The new site at 14 Sandgate Road will bring together the town library, the Adult Education Centre, and registration services for births, deaths, and marriages in one central building.
Work on the former retail building began in January to prepare modern classrooms, digital areas, and dedicated spaces for adult and children’s books. This move follows the emergency closure of the original library at Grace Hill in December 2022, which was shut down after severe water damage made the historic building unsafe for visitors.
While the new hub prepares to open, Folkestone Town Council has offered to buy the old Grace Hill site for a nominal sum of £1. A building survey found that fixing the Victorian property would cost 2.9 million pounds, which is nearly equal to the county council’s entire annual budget for maintaining all non-school buildings.
Members of the public have until 5:00 pm on 9 April 2026 to share their thoughts on the proposed sale of the old building. A previous proposal from groups like Creative Folkestone to turn the site into a cultural centre was considered but eventually turned down by the county council.
The new library location at Sandgate Road is designed to offer all the services residents expect in a more accessible town centre spot. Local leaders stated they have worked to ensure the town receives the updated learning and registration facilities it deserves after several years of using temporary sites.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
