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FOLCA 2 News Update 1 – 23 March 2026

The safety of our operatives, clients, and all stakeholders remains the highest priority at AW Construction.

Prior to commencing strip-out works at FOLCA 2 on behalf of Folkestone & Hythe District Council, a specialist team has been engaged to ensure the building is made safe for all parties involved in the project.

Following the completion of enabling works, including the isolation of incoming services, a safe working environment has been established. Temporary lighting and power have been installed across the site, alongside appropriate security measures.

In preparation for the upcoming strip-out phase, which will involve a significant workforce, a dedicated welfare facility has been constructed.

This unit has been constructed using recycled materials recovered from the former Debenhams building and includes newly installed toilet and cooking facilities, as well as designated first aid, eye wash, and other emergency provisions.

Existing lockers from the previous welfare block have been repurposed to provide secure storage for operatives’ personal belongings, along with secure charging units for battery-powered tools.

We have also been working closely with our supply chain, undertaking site inductions and walkthroughs ahead of the commencement of works.

Emphasis has been placed on minimising disruption to the public, given the site’s location in a busy area of Folkestone.

Additional works completed to date include:

• Removal of selected internal partitions to identify and locate existing services
• Removal of a deteriorated external staircase
• Marking out of new access and egress points for skips and material deliveries

We look forward to progressing into the main phase of the FOLCA 2 project and will continue to provide updates as works advance.

This work is an important step towards Folkestone & Hythe District Council bringing this iconic building back into public use.

AW Group is a multi-disciplined construction company providing a broad range of support and manpower across building and rail projects.

Our Fields are:

AW Construction – We offer an outstanding UK-wide fit out service, taking care of everything from scheduling rollouts & ordering materials to assistance with design and onsite delivery

AW Rail – We use the very best labour force and a proactive approach to deliver first-class construction and maintenance projects across the rail industry

AW Labour – We provide a high-calibre blue collar and white-collar workforce with a diverse range of skills, to support the construction and rail industries