Saga Press Release issued 14th May 2026
Saga has returned home to Enbrook Park and begins planning a sustainable future for the site.
Before the pandemic, Saga was Folkestone’s largest employer and had office space in the town for around 2,500 of its colleagues. During lockdown all of its local offices were closed and shortly after were emptied of furniture and put up for sale.
In early 2025 Saga decided to return to Enbrook Park, marking the start of an exciting new growth phase for the business. Building on its 75-year history in Folkestone, moving back was part of Saga’s long term growth plans, which included reestablishing connections with the local community and securing its long-term future at its Enbrook Park site.
Under the leadership of CEO Mike Hazell, Saga has reaffirmed its commitment to Folkestone, emphasising the important role that the company plays in supporting local communities and businesses. Its plans include some responsible development to ensure the long-term protection and sustainability of its site in Sandgate.
“Saga has deep roots in Folkestone,” said Mike Hazell, CEO of Saga plc. “The return to Enbrook Park was not just about offices for our colleagues. It was about ensuring the site remains a thriving part of Saga and the local community.”
“In order for the site to make long term sense, we can’t run it in the same way we did in the past. Our business is different now, and the way people work has also changed. We will therefore need to ensure we set the site up in a sustainable way that makes sense for Saga, our colleagues and the wider community.” Hazell explains.
Transforming The Pavilion
The Pavilion which used to accommodate Saga’s dining rooms, canteen and its company’s creche has fallen into a state of serious disrepair and needs substantial restoration to bring it back to life. This will require significant investment beyond what has already been invested since returning to Enbrook Park. The team is exploring various options that would give it a new lease of life as a flexible, multi-purpose space, not just for Saga colleagues but also to support local organisations and community events.
The proposed transformation would see the 31,000 sq ft building, reborn as a vibrant space for Saga as well as the community; ensuring the building becomes, once again, a vibrant focal point for Sandgate.
“We’re hoping that once renovated The Pavilion will play a meaningful role in community life here in Sandgate”, says Hazell. “Our vision is to create a welcoming, accessible space that brings people together, celebrates the park’s heritage, and reflects our renewed commitment to Folkestone.”
An under-utilised site
When Saga last occupied Enbrook Park it was a very busy business hub, welcoming over 1,000 colleagues every day and supporting a wider workforce of more than 5,000 people. Today, Saga operates very differently, working to a more modern hybrid working patterns, with between 400 to 500 people generally on-site most days. So, while Enbrook Park could form a proud part of the renewed culture and vision at Saga, it is now oversized and expensive to maintain relative to its operational requirements.
“To fund our plans for The Pavilion and support the ongoing maintenance of the site, we will need to explore some residential development in under-utilised parts of the estate to the east, albeit representing only a small proportion of the overall area. Our intention will be to respect the beautiful character of the wider site, while creating a sustainable and long-term home for Saga and our colleagues.” comments Hazell.
“We want Enbrook Park to be a vibrant part of Sandgate, retaining part of the site for local use, and bringing sustainable wealth and employment back to the area. In support of this, we want to jointly shape our development plans with local community input, recognising the important role the site plays in their daily lives.” Hazell added.
“After today’s announcement, the company will start to engage with local stakeholders to hear feedback and find balanced solutions, ensuring that what is developed is sensitive to the character of the area, respectful of the site’s natural environment, and beneficial to the wider community and economy.” Hazell continues.
Saga continues to be one of the area’s most significant employers and will continue to champion the Folkestone and Hythe economy by supporting local businesses, nurturing local talent, and investing in community projects.
Hazell concludes:
“As we celebrate our 75 Year Anniversary, we are proud to be back in Enbrook Park and excited at the opportunity to breathe new life into a landmark building, creating a fantastic new asset that can be shared with the community. In doing so we would be securing our long-term commitment to the area in a way that benefits both the company and the local communities we support.”
For more information and to offer views and feedback, visit https://www.saga.co.uk/enbrook-park
