Home Folkestone News Article
110 homes planned for land next to Kent Battle of Britain Museum
16:46, 02 February 2022
updated: 20:19, 02 February 2022
Plans have been submitted for more than 100 homes next to one of Folkestone's best-loved attractions.
Developers have earmarked land neighbouring the Kent Battle of Britain Museum in Hawkinge for housing.
The proposal is for 110 homes and public open space covering 5.2 hectares on the former Second World War airfield.
It also dedicates just over one hectare for "potential future expansion" of the museum and the creation of an overspill car park that can be accessed from Elvington Lane.
The proposals also include a possible village green around existing trees, a play area and a central 'green corridor' with existing trees, footpaths, new hedgerows and trees.
Developers cited the idea in the hope of "creating an attractive recreational space and breaking up views of the built form from the south".
For years during the Second World War, Hawkinge was used as a fighter base, as well as for refuelling the planes in the British Expeditionary Force, the Dunkirk evacuation and the Battle of Britain.
However, much of the original airfield has now been demolished and much of the site lays overgrown.
A survey into the heritage of the site by surveyors said: “Although Hawkinge Airfeld has considerable heritage significance, the focus of this interest, and of potential additional interest, appears now to rest on the surviving buildings centred around Hawkinge Battle of Britain Museum.
"The present development site appears not to retain any structures or features which are likely to throw additional light on the early or WWII-period use of the airfield."
Latest news
100 tractors in go-slow protest through Kent town as farmers fume over tax changes
Husband of nineties supermodel pays tribute to 'love of my life' at funeral
Fears village will be 'ruined forever' as 1,650 homes approved
Warning after TikTok emerges of girl ‘car-surfing’ through McDonald’s drive-thru
Features
Most popular
- 1
The abandoned ‘ghost road’ that once took holidaymakers to the Kent coast
23 - 2
Air ambulance lands after head-on smash between bus and car
- 3
Everything you need to know about Kent’s biggest Christmas market
3 - 4
'Our son didn't attend lectures for five months - why didn't uni check on him?'
- 5
Hundreds in the dark after power cuts