Road of Remembrance, Folkestone

Last updated: 21 January 2026

We are planning major engineering works to stabilise the collapsed cliff above the Road of Remembrance in Folkestone. These works would allow us to safely reopen the route, which has been closed since a landslip on 27 January 2024.

The landslip buried the road under soil and trees, and further instability on the slope has made it unsafe for us to carry out standard repairs. Over the past two years we have completed extensive site investigations, ecological surveys and engineering design work to understand the scale of the problem and develop a long term solution.

Funding and next steps

We hope to allocate significant funding towards the £5 million scheme within our  draft 2026/27 budget to deliver the works needed to stabilise the cliff and protect the road for the future.If the draft budget is agreed at Full Council on 12 February, the proposal will then move through our formal decision making process.

Once that decision is completed, we will appoint a specialist contractor and confirm a programme of work, including when construction can begin and how long it is likely to take. We will keep residents and road users updated as more information becomes available.

What the works will involve

The proposed scheme has been designed to provide a permanent and resilient solution on this challenging site. The work would include:

• installing 974 soil nails - long steel rods drilled deep into the cliff to hold unstable material in place and prevent further movement
• adding erosion control matting and mesh facing, which is a protective layer fixed to the cliff surface to stop loose material failing and reduce erosion from wind and rain
• improving drainage on the slope to divert water away from the cliff face and reduce water pressure within the ground
• applying shotcrete at the top of the cliff, creating a reinforced layer to protect the crest and nearby homes - shotcrete is concrete sprayed at high pressure to form a strong protective layer on unstable surfaces.

A complex and sensitive site

The steep slope, protected wildlife, and historic features on and around the site mean that the works will need to be carefully planned and delivered by a specialist contractor. Our teams have already completed significant work on the ground to understand the challenges, manage ecological constraints and keep the area safe.

We will share further updates here as the project moves forward.

Road closure and diversion route

Signed diversion routes are in place.

View the diversion route on our roadworks map.

Pedestrians should use the High Street as a diversion in both directions.

Folkestone events

We advise event organisers to get in touch with Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) via Apply4. We are working closely with event organisers and FHDC to support with route changes.

We understand the Road of Remembrance closure is a huge inconvenience to residents and businesses of Folkestone and we apologise for the disruption caused, however our priority is public safety, which we take very seriously.

A substantial amount of technical and complex work has taken place on and off the site.

We are grateful to the Folkestone residents and businesses for their continued patience.

We cannot provide any further updates on how long we will close the road for, or how we will remedy the situation. If you have any concerns about the effect on your property or business, contact your insurer.

Recent improvements