Folkestone: the revival of a neglected port town in the United Kingdom

The port town of Folkestone, on the south coast of Kent, fell into decline ten years ago. However, thanks to the initiatives of an investor and a concerned community, the seaside town is reviving its resort potential.

In particular, Folkestone has once again become an attractive destination for tourism, thanks to the ambition of Sir Roger De Haan, who bought the city's harbor in 2004 with the aim of regenerating it. The Daily Mail reported that he invested £34 million of his own money to develop the town.

"My parents founded a travel company called Saga, and when I sold it in 2004 (for £1.35 billion), I was only in my 50s and needed to keep working," said Sir Roger De Haan.

Sir Roger noted that Folkestone had one of the five lowest-performing secondary schools in England, so he focused on four areas of regeneration, including education, buildings, arts, and sports. Thus, he commissioned architect Norman Foster to carry out the renovation work, helped create performance venues, and invested in various sports facilities.

Additionally, a residential complex of 84 white brick apartments on the seashore has been significantly restored. The tall windows of these apartments perfectly illuminate the rooms, and the Gaudi-style balconies add a special atmosphere to the resort town. Also, travelers coming to this city can find restored beach paths, shops, studios, and bars.

"There's a really cosmopolitan atmosphere here. There are a lot of freelancers here, and we meet at the coffee shop twice a week, which gives a real sense of community," says 31-year-old freelancer Alex Rodriguez, who bought a house in Folkestone in 2020 and works in corporate communications.

According to Sir Roger: "In regions where the economy is broken, it's not enough to just repair buildings. You have to give the city a whole new economic purpose, and there has to be one overarching big ambition."