Ashford Growth Area
Profile
Ashford in Kent has been identified by the Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan as one of England’s Growth Areas (along with the M11 Corridor, Milton Keynes, the Thames Gateway, and the Northern Way).
A major study into the town’s capacity for growth over the next 30 years was completed in December 2002. It stated that the town has the potential to accommodate up to 31,000 new homes and 29,000 jobs by 2031. Future growth of the town will take into account the surrounding countryside and village communities together with issues such as flood risk.
A team of representatives from regional and national agencies including English Partnerships, Ashford Borough Council, SEEDA and Kent County Council has been established under the name Ashford’s Future to co-ordinate the development of the town in a sustainable way.
Current projects
In early 2004, English Partnerships acquired sites on East Street, West Street and Victoria Road for redevelopment according to its objective of delivering key brownfield sites to assist the regeneration of growth areas.
Affinity and Moat housing groups were selected in March 2005 as the preferred developers for the 0.65-acre East Street and West Street sites. The high-quality development will comprise 64 homes, 20 per cent of which will be affordable and the remainder shared equity. Ashford Borough Council approved the scheme in February 2007.
Bellway Homes was selected as the preferred developer in May 2006. The Borough Council granted outline planning permission for the 3.9-acre Victoria Road site in August for the mixed-use development, which includes around 260 homes plus retail and employment uses.
The site is part of a larger area of land, the remainder of which is owned by SEEDA for commercial-led development. Work is scheduled to start on the new homes later in 2008.
To support its growth and to promote Ashford as a great place to live, work, visit and do business a new brand for Ashford has been created. This new brand carries a powerful message - ‘best placed in Britain’ - which is underpinned by a range of propositions that highlight what Ashford is ‘best placed’ for, such as living, business, working and transport.