John Lewis plans approved

Plans to build a John Lewis at Home store in Ashford have been approved by Ashford Borough Council.

Permission was sought from the council’s planning committee on Wednesday 19th October to construct a 5,390sqm retail unit just off junction 9 M20.

The committee granted planning permission and the application will now be referred to the Secretary of State, as standard, and will also be subject to the completion of a section 106 agreement.

The applicant agreed to submit further landscaping plans to ensure that the finished site will compliment the natural setting of The Warren.

John Lewis will invest £7million and create 160 new jobs in the new development, to be built on Fougeres Way, south of The Warren.

The new store will be spread over two levels, with 4,076sqm of retail floor space selling furniture and a variety of homewares, and is expected to open in autumn 2012.

It will be open from 9am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays, and have a customer cafe, 31 cycle spaces, and 199 parking spaces.

Cllr Peter Wood, Leader of Ashford Borough Council said: “We are delighted to welcome John Lewis at Home to Ashford. This is very exciting news.

"The new store will complement the town’s existing retail offer while significantly enhancing the choices for shoppers in Ashford and whole of East Kent.

“The fact that John Lewis has chosen to invest in Ashford again – following the opening of Waitrose in 2009 – is a testament to the level of confidence national organisations have in Ashford’s potential as a vibrant, prosperous town.”

Media release 0224/11
25/10/2011