Master William’s Place

Organisation: Kent County Council – No Use Empty
Project: Master William’s Place
Location: Folkestone, Kent

Reviving a long-vacant town-centre building

With support from Kent County Council’s No Use Empty programme, local developer Browns Realty Limited converted the upper floors of a prominent commercial building into 32 homes while retaining the ground-floor retail unit.

The site had a long history, from the Victorian Queen’s Hotel to a later office building known as Queens House. Planning approvals were secured over several years, but works stalled in 2022 and the partly stripped building became a visible town-centre eyesore.

A new start

Local developer William Brown acquired the leasehold in September 2024, restarted the redevelopment and delivered 27 apartments. Planning permission for an additional storey created five more two-bedroom homes, bringing the total to 32. The completed scheme was renamed Master William’s Place in December 2025 and all apartments were let.

The £6.7 million project included a £1.4 million short-term secured loan from No Use Empty and achieved an estimated gross development value of £8.2 million.

Impact

• 32 new homes created in the town centre
• A long-vacant, deteriorating building brought back into productive use
• Construction employment and work for local contractors and suppliers
• Additional footfall for nearby shops and services
• Annual council-tax revenue reported at £59,252

Lessons learned

Strong partnerships, clear communication and proactive problem-solving were essential. Browns Realty, Kent County Council’s No Use Empty team and Folkestone & Hythe District Council worked closely to manage planning, funding and the risks of taking on a partially completed development.

Find out more at No Use Empty.