The new facility will serve the town “for the foreseeable future”
The new library facility on Sandgate Road will also house the town’s Adult Education Centre.(Image: KCC)
An update has been given on the opening of Folkestone’s new library and community hub as works on the space begin.
Following the closure of the town’s historic library on Grace Hill back in 2022 as a result of flood damage, a scaled-down version of the service has operated out of Shepway Youth Club since November 2023.
Then in September last year, Kent County Council (KCC) announced plans to move the library facilities to a larger town centre space in the former Job Centre at 14 Sandgate Road.
KCC has now announced that works have officially begun to create the new library space, which will also double as a community hub for Folkestone and house the town’s Adult Education Centre “for the foreseeable future”.
Joining the adult and children’s libraries will be a local history collection, dedicated spaces for reading, studying and community events, digital facilities including free Wi-Fi and public computers, a location for birth and death registration appointments, as well as the modern classrooms for adult education.
KCC has said that the hub is expected to open in spring 2026, though an exact date has yet to be determined.
Brian Collins, Deputy Leader of Kent County Council, said: “This is a big moment for Folkestone. We’ve listened to residents and worked hard to make sure the town has the adult education and library and registration services it deserves.
“Starting work to refit the building at Sandgate Road means we’re delivering on that promise – creating a welcoming, practical space that will serve the community well.”
The update on the Sandgate Road facility follows the recent revival of hopes that the Grace Hill library could be brought back into use after Creative Folkestone and community partners submitted a formal proposal to restore the landmark building in October 2025.
The expression of interest, submitted to KCC on Tuesday, October 28, outlined a vision to secure central government funding to restore the historic red-brick building and return it to public use, coinciding with the 115th anniversary of the library’s 1910 extension.
The closure of the library, which first opened back in 1888, sparked immediate public protest and a 3,647-signature petition calling for its restoration, despite KCC later confirming that it did not consider making repairs to the building to be “financially justifiable.”
The campaign to save the library, now entering its fourth year, has been a sustained effort. The detailed, practical partnership proposal was formulated through extensive discussions with KCC, Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC), and Creative Folkestone. Find out more here.
KCC’s Growth, Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee will consider a report on Folkestone Library and the building at 2 Grace Hill on Tuesday, January 13 2026. Speaking on the Sandgate Road facility, Paul Webb, KCC Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, added: “Libraries are at the heart of our communities, and Folkestone residents have been patiently waiting for the full range of town centre services to return.
“This new location will give residents access to everything they expect – from books, computers and local history to registration services – all under one roof.”
Glenn Harper MRICS, Managing Director of G A Harper Ltd, the construction specialists carrying out the works on behalf of KCC, said: “We are honoured to be working with KCC as the main contractor for the new Folkestone Library facility.
“With works now underway on site as of 5 January 2026, our team looks forward to collaborating closely with KCC to deliver a high-quality refurbishment in time for handover by the end of April 2026.
“The completed project will provide a modern, welcoming environment for library and adult education staff and customers to enjoy once officially open.”
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