FOLKESTONE COASTAL COMMUNITY TEAM ECONOMIC PLAN Local Area Folkestone Is a Coastal Town of National Strategic Importance with Undoubted Potential
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FOLKESTONE COASTAL COMMUNITY TEAM ECONOMIC PLAN Local Area Folkestone is a coastal town of national strategic importance with undoubted potential. Its location on the south Kent coast places the town in an enviable position, with unparalleled scenery and outstanding transport infrastructure which links it to the rest of the UK and to Europe. Like a number of once prosperous coastal resorts, Folkestone has been evolving over Ambition for the town has remained strong in spite of numerous severe economic the last 40 years to find a new role and purpose and, thereby, real prosperity for its challenges and since 2004 a concerted strategy has been developed to regenerate key residents. Key to a more successful future is driving forward economic regeneration, areas of the Old Town, to bring about major improvements in education provision and by bringing together public, private and business expertise. to establish new opportunities for the enjoyment of residents and visitors in art and sports. In addition, in September 2009, Folkestone’s two railway stations began to offer Folkestone is a town with a proud history closely linked to the growth of Great Britain high speed services to London St Pancras in a little over 50 minutes. In terms of road as a nation through its proximity to the Continent, beginning in the Iron Age, the transport the town benefits from direct access to the motorway network with Junctions Romans, the Saxons, then the Normans, by which time the original fishing village had 12 and 13 of the M20. These recent developments have begun to stimulate greater become part of the Cinque Ports federation. prosperity to the town, generating new employment opportunities and helping make Folkestone became a town at the beginning of the Tudor period and wars with France Folkestone a better place in which to work, live and visit. meant it had to be defended and the beginning of a harbour was established. It was In some ways Folkestone has two identities or lacks a clear identity or brand. On the a centre for smuggling during the 18th century when the harbour was completed but one hand it is set on a beautiful stretch of Channel coast between the Kent Downs to it was the coming of the railways in the 19th century that brought prosperity to the the north east and Romney Marsh to the south west. The town boasts an eclectic and town with a tourist trade and development of the port and the seaside resort. elegant mix of styles, where urban development of the highest quality sits alongside the However changes in tourism patterns, particularly the advent of cheap foreign travel natural landscape of the Kent coast. On the other hand, some parts of the town have in the mid-20th century, depleted its fortunes. In addition, the loss of other traditional poor housing stock and record issues of multiple deprivation. The town centre retail area industries in the 1980s and 1990s saw further decline in the town in spite of the also divides opinion. The central area bordering Sandgate Road has suffered in line with opening of the Channel Tunnel on the 6th May 1994. many town centres since the economic downturn following 2008. The retail, leisure and evening offer of Folkestone do not yet set the town out as a destination. 3 Community Folkestone has a population of 51,337 (ONS 2011) which has increased by 13.9% since 2001. The town is warded but each area has its own distinct opportunities and challenges. Each Town Ward has a detailed ward profile produced in May 2015 Central (including Harvey Ward) these are included as supporting documents and include all sources and data references Mainly a commercial area and the main seafront. It is made up of an urban landscape (hotels, residential accommodation, commercial properties), gardens and parks In 2010 the town was ranked in the top 20% of places in the National Index of Multiple Deprivation. 10.5% of the population are currently claiming disability benefits and Shepway District is the second most deprived out of the 12 Kent Harbour Districts and 97th out of 326 in England according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Significantly there are clear pockets of deprivation in East Folkestone To the southwest is a dense urban area that leads down to the harbour, to the which is the continuation of an historical trend (IMD 2010) northeast it contains the East Cliff & Warren Country Park East Key issues relating to the community include: Predominantly residential with some small business, varied housing stock including • Some of the highest density of population in the county higher proportions of rented (LA, HA, private) • Proportion of households earning less than £20,000 per annum is nearly twice the national average (Central, Harbour, East) (CACI, 2015) West • The rate of unemployment and permanently sick and disabled are above the local and county average (12%) (NOMIS, 2015) Area of higher quality Victorian and Edwardian housing, tree lined avenues and open space • More than 88% of the housing stock are flats or apartments (SDC Ward Profiles, 2015) Broadmead • 64% of people live in rented accommodation (SDC Ward Profiles, 2015) • 44% of properties are valued at below £125,000, which is 50% above the Residential area developed in 60-80s, contains majority of the town’s schools and national average (SDC Ward Profiles, 2015) sports / leisure provision • 28% of residents have no qualifications (Harbour) (SDC Ward Profiles, 2015) Cheriton • The population is not highly ethnically diverse at 6.3% of the population, approximately half the national average, but is in line with neighbouring areas. The most highly represented ethnic groups are Other White European, Indian, Has a ‘village’ feel and identity with a high street and residential area with large Other Asian (largely Nepalese in line with Folkestone’s strong link with the proportion of the town’s military families and is home to two large army barracks. New Gurkhas) (ONS, 2011) housing developments planned 5 Key Characteristics • The key to change is economic regeneration, providing more jobs and apprenticeships • Strong business representation in the financial, insurance and business services sectors, an existing tourism reputation, and growing creative and media sectors Economy and restaurant and hospitality sectors • Currently the majority of those employed work in wholesale and retail trades or the human health and social work sectors. Less than 6% are employed in manufacturing and only 8% in financial services although these are significant, high-quality jobs (SDC Economic Development Strategy, 2015) • There is a need to revitalise the retail offer • Focus for the majority of the town’s recent and future housing growth – around 6,000 new homes are expected up to 2026 (SDC Economic Development Strategy, 2015) • Low unemployment rates overall but small pockets of high unemployment in East and Central Folkestone. (SDC Ward Profiles, 2015) • Low wage levels commensurate with lower than desired quality of jobs • Low levels of educational attainment, but opportunities to capitalise on new investment by East Kent College and the performance of Folkestone’s two grammar schools (SDC Ward Profiles, 2015) 6 Key Economic Trends Key Challenges and Opportunities • Population growth – between 2001 and 2011 Folkestone’s population, particularly • Jobs – there has been growth in the numbers of jobs, but these have been generally those in the working age group has been growing quickly (up by 13.9% since 2001 lower paid, lower skilled jobs Census (ONS, 2011)) • High value jobs – there is a deficit of opportunities and workers in the knowledge • The working age population constitutes a higher proportion of Folkestone’s economy. Economic activity and employment rates - these are relatively low in population than in most comparator areas, and this offers an advantage in terms Shepway of the productive potential of residents • Joblessness – people claiming Job Seekers Allowance is higher than in the • The number of jobs has increased by 24% between 2000 and 2012 – faster than comparator areas and South East average in all the comparator areas except Ashford which saw a similar growth rate (SDC • Residents’ full time earnings – are lower than the South East and national averages Ward Profiles, 2015) • Workplace earnings – are noticeably lower than the South East and national • Full time earnings in the workplace are increasing (SDC Economic Development averages and also lower than average earnings for Shepway’s residents Strategy, 2015) • Productivity (as measured by GVA per job) - has been running increasingly behind • The unemployment rate has fallen recently, although still well above the South the SE over the last 12 years and this pattern is projected to continue to 2031 East average • Co-ordinate existing business support facilities and identify new requirements and • Jobs are forecast to grow more quickly than the South East average to 2031 support start-up businesses to take the next step (SDC Economic Development Strategy, 2015) • Support larger companies to help them realise their potential • Boost productivity and support business growth • Improve lower than average business survival rate 7 Related initiatives Town Centre and Harbour Broadband • Creative Foundation • Line of sight superfast broadband from Civic Centre • Creative Quarter • Town centre CCTV wi-fi hotspots (FTC – in development) • Folkestone’s HEART (HLF) • Townscape Heritage Initiative (HLF) Marketing Branding and Events • Folkestone Harbour and Seafront Regeneration • Triennial arts