The landslip on 27 January 2024 left the road buried under tons of soil and trees, forcing its immediate closure. Since then, KCC has led extensive investigations and overcome numerous challenges on site to design a permanent solution that addresses the serious instability of the cliff and protects the road for the future.
The Council intends to allocate significant funding towards the £5 million scheme within its draft 2026/27 budget. If this budget is agreed at Full Council in February, the scheme could get underway as soon as early summer.
The landslip on 27 January 2024 left the road buried under tons of soil and trees, forcing its immediate closure.
The works will include:
- Drilling of 974 soil nails (long steel rods) deep into the cliff face to pin the unstable soil and rock together, preventing further movement and collapse.
- Erosion control matting and mesh facing, which is a protective layer fixed to the cliff surface to stop loose material falling, reduce erosion from rain and wind, and work with the soil nails to keep the cliff stable.
- Drainage systems to redirect water away from the cliff face, reducing water pressure inside the ground (a major cause of instability).
- Shotcrete reinforcement at the crest to safeguard nearby homes (shotcrete is concrete sprayed at high pressure to form a strong protective layer on unstable surfaces).
“Reopening the Road of Remembrance matters deeply to residents, businesses and everyone who understands the history of this iconic route.”
Peter Osborne, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "Reopening the Road of Remembrance matters deeply to residents, businesses and everyone who understands the history of this iconic route.
“I’m really pleased that we have now identified a significant proportion of funding that will allow the specialist works to start. If the Council’s budget is agreed next month, we’ll be in a position to move forward, appoint contractors, and could see work start in early summer. We are also in discussion with a number of partners and agencies to identify and secure other financial contributions.
"Since the landslip occurred, our teams have dealt with legal complexities, responded to further landslips during investigations, discovered protected species and preserved access to a historic war bunker – all the while developing the specialist engineering design for a permanent solution.
KCC engineers inspect the landslip on the Road of Remembrance.
"Getting this road open again will not only restore an important historic link but will also support local businesses and contribute to the wider economic regeneration of Folkestone."
This is a highly complex site that will require a specialist engineering contractor and careful management of ecological constraints. If the draft budget is agreed at the Full Council meeting on 12 February, the proposed works would then still need to be considered through a formal decision-making process in accordance with the KCC Constitution. Then, if a relevant recommendation is approved, KCC is likely to be able to provide more details about the delivery of the necessary works. In the meantime, we are tentatively working to bring about as much certainty as is possible to confirm potential start dates and to find out how long it is likely to take. We will keep residents informed as more details are known.
For more information, visit: Road of Remembrance, Folkestone - Kent County Council
