Member Article

Ashford £180m regeneration projects brought forward

Property regeneration company U+I has announced it is bringing forward its £180m regeneration plans that will see 800 new homes and new amenities built in Ashford, Kent.

The plans, which have been designed by local architect Guy Holloway, will be spread across two schemes totalling 14 acres and see the creation of 200 jobs.

The first site, which will total nine acres, is located next to Victoria Way on the former Powergen site. U+I, in partnership with Canterbury-based mixed use developer Quinn Estates, has submitted plans for a total of 660 homes to be developed.

Totalling six acres, proposals for the second site include approximately 200 residential units, a 120-bed hotel and an Aldi food store, which U+I intends to submit planning application for in April.

It is yet another development planned in Ashford, with plans afoot for a number of large-scale regeneration projects in the town, including improvements to the M20 and new leisure facilities.

Commenting on this latest development, Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “We welcome more proposals coming forward from the private sector, who clearly see the attractiveness of investing in Ashford.

“Of course, the council will need to carefully examine any application when it comes forward and ensure the appropriate planning process is followed as these two important sites must play a huge part in bringing in added vitality and life into the heart of the town centre and must deliver attractive, high quality investment.

“Along with the college, commercial quarter offices, town centre cinema and designer outlet expansion, these sites will play a key part in the changing face of the town centre in the coming years - these are exciting times for the town.”

Richard Upton, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of U+I added: “Community creation is at the heart of what we do at U+I. We believe we have the opportunity to create two fantastic mixed-used developments that will bring both job opportunities and high quality housing to the local area, allowing us to add to the community in Ashford.

“This is an exciting town in the London City Region, an area in which we are focussed as a business and we look forward to creating a brand new destination for Ashford.”