Save Ingles Meadow

The Radnor Estate has recently submitted amended plans to build a 59 dwelling housing estate on land currently occupied by Folkestone Garden Centre and close to Grade II listed Ingles Manor and historically termed Ingles Meadow.

Approaching 100 individuals and groups have submitted objections on the SDC website and a group of concerned local residents have already collected over a thousand signatures on a handwritten petition, which they intend to present to the Shepway Development Control Committee before it meets to determine the planning application.

There has been a garden centre on the site since the early 1970’s. When planning permission was originally sought for the Garden Centre, the amenity value for local residents was emphasized. The town centre location means it is accessible on foot or by public transport and it also draws a huge number of visitors from outside Folkestone. The parkland setting is a green oasis in the middle of the town, an important centre for the community and a haven for wild life, complete with badger setts. There is widespread distress at the prospect of losing Folkestone Garden Centre and the popular “Blossoms” café. Folkestone Town Council policy 3, which is a constraint on the site’s development, makes provision for keeping important groups of trees. Despite this the plan is to fell over 60 of them.

Grade II listed Ingles Manor dates back to the late 17th or early 18th century when it was constructed as a farmhouse and a number of farm outbuildings still exist. It currently houses the Channel Business Centre. According to council policy, any development should respect Grade II listed Ingles Manor and the special nature of the conservation area and yet 3 storey town houses, 11 metres high, are proposed in front of Ingles Manor, dramatically changing the nature of this part of the Conservation Area.

The Draft Core Strategy document for Shepway states that the area which includes the proposed development site, entitled the central/west development arc, provides for some residential development provided it can be justified by enabling the full commercial potential of the area to be realized. 70 people are currently employed here but this number may reduce dramatically if the application is given the go ahead.

The site is bordered by Jointon Road and Castle Hill Avenue which are in the next phase of the parking scheme introduced to ease congestion. The sewers on Castle Hill Avenue and Shorncliffe Road flood after heavy rain, making life difficult for pedestrians and drivers. There have been a number of road accidents in the section of Castle Hill Avenue which will carry increased traffic if the proposed development goes ahead.