Elwick Place Goes to Market
The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) is to
seek expressions of interest from developers and investors for the
development of its Elwick Road site located within Ashford Town
Centre.
The site totals approximately 6.65 acres, with the potential for
up to 500,000 sq ft of new floorspace for a substantial mixed-use
development comprising retail, leisure facilities, offices and
residential accommodation. .
Located directly opposite ING’s County Square Shopping Centre
extension, Elwick Place runs along the majority of Elwick Road and
comprises the former Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) depot and the old
Cattle Market, which SEEDA acquired in May this year.
Martin Barrow, SEEDA Senior Development Executive, said: “The
delivery of Elwick Place to the market for private sector
investment is the culmination of significant activity via the
Ashford’s Future Partnership since the launch of the Government’s
Sustainable Communities Plan in 2003.
“The long held ambition for Ashford to become a major Growth
Area in the South East is now set to become a reality with the
significant public sector funding setting the foundations for the
private sector to now take the lead.”
Cllr Paul Clokie, Chairman of the Ashford’s Future partnership
said: “This is the start of an exciting phase in Ashford’s
redevelopment as the site will play an integral part in the town’s
long term regeneration plans.
“It will create a link between the town centre and the domestic
station and compliment the work currently happening on the former
Ring Road to make the area a vibrant, attractive place to live,
work and do business.”
Over the next few months SEEDA will be seeking initial
expressions of interest from developers wishing to get involved
with the site. Following this a short list will be drawn up by a
panel of partners including Ashford Borough Council, Kent County
Council, English Partnerships and SEEDA inviting selected
developers to submit more detailed proposals for the scheme.
It is anticipated that a final decision on the selected private
sector partner will take place in April 2008.
Ashford is expected to deliver 28,000 jobs and 31,000 homes
within the next 30 years. Other areas in the South East recognised
for growth in the Sustainable Communities Plans are the Thames
Gateway and Milton Keynes.
Jones Lang LaSalle is the agent acting for SEEDA on Elwick Road.
For more information please call Vince Prior or Stewart Underwood
020 7493 6040.
Media Release 0326/07
15/10/2007