ashford briefingwww.ashfordbestplaced.co.uk

autumn 2010

Ashford is now recognised as one of the fastest growing areas of England, and for

buyers and renters it offers an irresistible combination of a pleasant market town with good connections to London and beyond. July 2010

What The papers Say

inside•Workstarts

on major infrastructure projects

•Ashfordshinesin’

perception survey

•Housesalesonthe rise

•SirTerryFarrellreveals his design vision for Ashford

The introduction of high-speed domestic rail services have had a positive impact on

Kent as a business location. September 2010

Fast rail brings economic boom to Ashford

government funding secure for 2011

Nearlyoneyearonfromits launch, high-speed domestic rail services are lifting house sales, attracting new investors, and boosting businesses in Ashford.Locate in Kent are assisting 60 companies who are currently considering Ashford for potential projects, while estate agents are reporting a steady flow of buyers coming into the area, attracted by its fast connections, great value homesandexcellentqualityoflife.

Local estate agents have reported asurgeinenquiriesandsalessincethe arrival of the 37 minute rail service to London.

Alex Davies, director at Ashford

basedestateagentsHobbsParker,said:“We’reseeingmanymoreenquiriesfrompeoplecurrentlyliving in either central or north London, and more interest from the home counties.

“The fast train line, combined with access to excellent schools and the fact that prices still represent good value, makes Ashford a highly attractive package.”

The success of high speed trains to London and the continent is also proving beneficial to the area’s businesses, with firms using the service on a regular basis and saving much-needed time and money.

Investmentsby10companiesin2009/10 are set to create 262 new

Ashford has survived an uncertain summer for growth areas across the country by securing the full amount of government funding available for 2011.

Inaperiodofchangeacrossthe country, the Department for CommunitiesandLocalGovernmentreleased £4.2m Growth Area Funding (GAF) for 2010-2011 in August.

This represents a huge boost for Ashford’s growth plans, and gives the green light to several new projects that will greatly benefit the local community, including the Arts atStMary’simprovements.

CllrPaulBartlett,LeaderofAshfordBoroughCouncil,said:“Atatimewhen cuts in public spending are reaching unprecedented levels, the new coalition Government has shown its confidence in Ashford’s growth programme.

“This further investment will fund a range of improvement projects

jobs within three years - the highest number of all Kent districts.

NewadditionstoAshford’sbusinesscommunityincludeNewWorldNetcomandSagittariusMarketing,and both firms cited the high-speed rail services to London and Europe as the main deciding factor for the move.

£2.5billioninvestment>2millionsqftofcommercialspace>37minutestoLondon>2hourstoParis>28,000newjobs>31,000newhomes

in the town to make Ashford a better place to live and work for our residents.”

The announcement follows other recent successful government funding bids including £16.5m CommunityInfrastructureFundingforVictoriaWayand£15.1mRegionalInfrastructureFundingfor improvements to Junction 9 andnearbyDroversRoundaboutincluding a landmark footbridge overtheM20.

CllrPaulClokie,ChairmanoftheAshford’sFuturePartnershipBoard,said: “This announcement means over £54m is being invested in Ashford in the next year which will result in a better transport network and improved community facilities for our residents to enjoy and use for many years to come.”

Ashford has received a total of £22.5m GAF funding between 2008 and 2011.

4

Full steam ahead for Ashford’s growthAshford’s growth is reaching new levels of success as funding is secured for another year’s worth of work.

WiththereleaseofthelatestroundofGrowthAreaFunding,Ashford will be a hive of activity over the next 12 months.

Workisalreadyunderwayonimprovementstoonemotorway junction and major traffic route into town,

a brand new road through south Ashford, and an iconic new library and community building. The latest round of funding will also fund the creation of various community projects.

Withthislevelofnewinfrastructureinplace,Ashfordiswellequippedtomakethetransformationintoavibrant,culturally-rich and exciting town to live, work and do business.

Transport Majordevelopmentopportunitieshavebeenunlocked in Ashford with the start of two crucial road projects.

ContractshavebeenlettoexpandJunction9oftheM20,andtoconstructa new road through south Ashford, bringing vast improvements for the town’s transport infrastructure.

ThecontractfortheexpansionofJ9oftheM20(oneofthemainroadroutesinandoutofthetown)wasawardedtoBAMNutall,followingthesuccessfulcompletionofa£15.1mRegionalInfrastructureFundingAgreementandtwofurtherdeveloperfundingagreementsinMay2010.

The work includes expanding the motorway junction, increasing capacity on an adjacent roundabout and building a stunning new foot and cycle bridge across the motorway to improve pedestrian access to Eureka BusinessandLeisureParks.

Once completed in spring 2011, the improved access to and from the town will open up development opportunities for up to 10,000 new homes and 6,000 new jobs in the area.

A contract has also been awarded to Volker Fitzpatrick to construct a new linkroad,VictoriaWay,fromtheInternationalStationtosouthAshford.

ThenewroadwillgreatlyimprovecommuteraccesstotheInternationalStation, and open up links to south Ashford’s new urban communities and increasingly popular rural residential areas.

Theprojectwasawarded£16.5mCommunityInfrastructureFunding,andwill unlock substantial commercial, residential and retail opportunities, as well as around 1,320 new homes and 1,100 new jobs by 2020.

Ashford is set to have one of the fastest recoveries from the 2007 recession in the county.

According to recent figures from the South East England Development

ThenewM20footbridge

VictoriaSquarewillbethefocalpointofVictoriaWay

Agency, Ashford will return to pre-recession levels of output and employment by the end of 2010, compared to a wait of up to six more years for other Kentish towns.

The figures also show Ashford will have the highest rate of economic recovery in Kent, with a projected growth rate of 2.7% in 2010 and 2.5% in 2011.

Short road to recovery for AshfordThe borough’s growth is substantially larger than the average for the county.

One of Ashford’s most visited historic landmarks is to be transformed into a ‘shared sacred space’ as work on a stunning new arts venue gets underway in the town.

SubstantialrenovationworkistobecarriedoutatStMary’sChurchinAshford town centre, to enable the venue to host arts, music and drama events for up to 350 people while still serving its congregation.

TakinginspirationfromUnionChapelinIslington,thechurchwillhavea much more flexible performance space at its heart suitable for both religious and secular events, and will be the centerpiece of the town’s cultural offer.

There-orderingofthechurchwasapprovedbyTheChurchofEngland’sofficial planning body in June, and work started in October and complete in spring 2011.

Arts at St Mary’s

An iconic new ‘gateway’ for AshfordAshford’s old library in the town centre is being replaced by a stunning new building - Ashford Gateway Plus - that will substantially improve public services for the growing population and create a new landmark building in the town centre.

Ashford Gateway Plus will house new and improved library services and a range of public and voluntary services under one roof.

Ashford’s Future has contributed £1.95m to the £7.56m project, which is run in partnership withKentCountyCouncilandAshfordBoroughCouncil.

Services will include a larger library, register office for civil wedding ceremonies, housing

advice, social services, adult education, free internet and a new café.

The new building, due to open in 2011, will also be an iconic new structure in Ashford’s growing town centre for residents and visitors to enjoy, and improve the provision of public services for both new and established residents.

To find out more visit www.kent.gov.uk/ashfordgatewayplus

The work includes new flexible seating, lighting rig, raised stage, toilets, disabled access, and under floor heating.

The project will cost £1.7m, including £1.2m of Growth Area Funding from Ashford’sFuture,£100,000fromAshfordBoroughCouncilandfurthercontributionsfromTheChurchofEnglandandotherexternalpartners.

JudithArmitt,managingdirectorofAshford’sFuture,said:“Havinganimpressive, flexible arts venue offering a vibrant cultural programme to residents and visitors alike is an integral part of Ashford’s growth agenda andthereorderingofStMary’swillgiveourgrowingpopulationanartsprogramme to be proud of.”

Ashford’s appeal as a great place to live continues to grow as one of the town’s most sought-after developments reports selling homes at a rate of two a week.Despite the economic downturn, both house building and sales in Ashford continue at an impressive rate.

As housebuilding has slowed in other areas, activity is at its highest level in Ashford since 2007, with a total of 466 new homes under construction in the borough in July.

AndwordisclearlyspreadingaboutthehighqualityTaylorWimpey’snewBridgefieldresidentialdevelopment,intheprosperingCheeseman’sGreenarea,whichhasseenaquarterofhomessnappedupalreadybyeagerbuyers.

The current phase of the development comprises a collection of three and four-bedroom homes priced between £155,000 and £290,000, in a semi-rural setting just 10 minutes away from Ashford town centre and station.

TaylorWimpeySouthEastSalesManagerKellyDunnsays:“ThecurrentphaseofourBridgefielddevelopmentgotofftoaflyingstartatthebeginning of this year.

“Our showhome is attracting no end of new visitors in search of property in Ashford who are keen to see how good life can be here.”

Regeneration news - HousebuildingandsalesontheriseinAshford

grosvenor Hall Activity CentreCasestudy

Ashford is fast becoming a leader in educational activity courses with the opening of a brand new KingswoodEducationalActivityCentre. In2010,Kingswood–partoftheEducationalTravelGroup–successfullyconvertedAshford’sGrosvenorHallintooneofthetopeducationalactivitycentres in Europe.

ChosenforitsexcellentlocationjustminutesfromtheM20andAshfordInternationalStation,theformerpolicetrainingcollegeunderwentamulti-millionpoundredevelopmentandopeneditsdoorsinMarchasahigh specification activity centre with some of the best outdoor education facilitiesintheUK.

CentremanagerMattHealeysaid:“Idon’tthinkanyothercentreintheUKcomesclosetothefacilitiesnowavailableinAshford.Wehaveaverydiverse programme and it is attracting more and more people nationally and internationally.”

The centre offers residential multi-activity courses to school children from acrosstheglobe.Facilitiesincludezipwires,mini-quadbikes,climbingwalls,aswimmingpool,twocinemas,fencing,archery,lazer-questandproblem solving tasks linked to the national curriculum.

Since opening, 60 per cent of the centre’s users have been international, and Ashford’s prime location on the gateway to Europe has proved a high selling point.

MrHealeycontinued:“Ashfordwasasuperblocationforus,beingsocloseto very high population areas and easily accessible by Eurostar and Gatwick airport.

“BeingabletogettoAshfordquicklyandeasilybytrainorroadisamajordeciding factor for our international visitors, and many of the visiting teachers have commented how well placed the centre is.”

Ashford has also provided the centre with a large pool of local skilled workers, and Kingswood Ashford stands out as having more local staff on its116-strongteamthanitsothercentresintheUK.

“Werecruitmostofourinstructorsnationally,”saidMrHealey.“ButinAshford about 50 per cent of our staff are local. Our team, particularly housekeeping, is outstanding and we are driving the national standard.”

Ashford’s Design AmbassadorCreate new bridges across the railway line

New bridges across the rail line will improve pedestrian connections between South Ashford and the town centre. New bridges will provide local people with improved connections to the retail core and access to all the town centre’s opportunities. These will also become icons which help to reinforce Ashford’s reputation as a place of exceptional connectivity and design excellence to the wider world.

New bridges link Elwick Road to the Southern

Expansion Quarter

Improved pedestrian bridge connecting Bank

Street to South Ashford

Enhanced green bridge between Station Quarter and town centre

at Beaver Road

Enhanced Station bridge connecting International and Domestic Station

Seán O’Casey Bridge, Dubin Millennium Bridge Newcastle Green Bridge in East London Zubizuri (White bridge), Bilbao Kurilpa Bridge, Brisbane

Sir Terry Farrell has revealed his vision for Ashford’s transformation into the ‘powerhouse of Kent’ in the next 20 years.

As the town’s design ambassador, the world renowned architect’s ideas will help shape the borough’s ambitious growth plans and ensure Ashford continues to be recognised internationally as a place to watch.

Sir Terry unveiled his vision at a special exhibition in Ashford on 2nd June, and said the 37 minute high-speed rail service to London could make Ashford the new Lille, which has transformed beyond all recognition in recent years due to strong rail links.

Among the ideas identified as central to Ashford’s future development are:

•LinkAshfordInternationalStationtothetowncentre,andintegratethestation with its surrounding areas;

•CreatethenewCommercialQuarterasavibrantpartofthetown;

•Createnew‘iconic’pedestrianbridgesacrosstherailway,linkingsouthAshford with the town centre;

•Completethetransformationoftheringroadasasharedsurface;

•CreateamixedurbanquarterandheritagecomplexattheoldNewtownrailway works;

•Reinvigoratethehistorichighstreettoreinforceitsdistinctiveidentities;

•Maintainthehigheststandardsofhousingandenvironmentaldesign.

Sir Terry Farrell unveils his vision for AshfordCApiTAliSing on HigH Speed RAil

M11

M23

Leeds

Brighton

Birmingham

M1

M6

EuropeEurope

LondonLondon

37mins

17mins

22mins

59mins

69mins

57mins

91mins

80mins

33mins

Gravesend

Medway

Ebbsfleet

AshfordAshford HS1HS1

CTRLCTRL

HS1HS1

GatwickAirport

HeathrowAirport

Ramsgate

Canterbury

Margate

Folkestone

Dover

Manston Airport

St Pancras

Lydd Airport

City Airport

Port of Dover

Port of Ramsgate

Thamesport

Sheerness

Create new bridges across the railway “new bridges will become icons which help to reinforce Ashford’s reputation as a place of exceptional connectivity and design excellence.”

Complete the shared space “Ashford should be the first town in Britain to reinvent its ‘concrete collar’ as a network of connected pedestrian avenues.”

“The arrival of high speed rail is extraordinarily beneficial to Ashford. The service connects Ashford to a vibrant and changing part of central london, and improves links with the rest of the UK.

“High speed rail represents an exciting opportunity for Ashford to re-think its role within Kent, the greater South east and the rest of the UK.”

integrate the station with its neighbours “The Station Quarter has great potential to become a vibrant new destination as well as help to shape Ashford’s economy over the next 20 years.”

We have moved!

Ashford. Top location…

Reasons To Smile

For more information on how you can be a part of Ashford’s Future, visit www.ashfordbestplaced.co.uk or contact:

Ashford’s Future, 11thFloor,InternationalHouse Dover Place Ashford, Kent TN231HU

Tel: 01233 330812

Email: investment@ashfordbestplaced.co.uk

Ashford is one of the top locations in Kent for businesses, according to a new perception survey amongst key business figures in the South East.

The survey, by investment promotion agency Locate in Kent, found Ashford was a front runner as a preferred business location compared to other major towns in the county, and the majority of respondents felt that the area had improved over the past five years and would continue to do so in the near future.

The perception survey also showed that 60% of respondents were aware of Ashford’s growth agenda, and 81% thought this made Ashford more attractive to businesses.

The arrival of the 37 minute rail service from Ashford to London St Pancras has made a considerable impact, with 88% of respondents feeling this made Ashford more attractive as a business area. A further 72% felt the same way about the international Eurostar services.

Some of the positive comments received included:

“Goteverythinggoingforit...theInternationalStationandlinksandthe Eurostar, lots of lovely countryside. The town centre has improved immensely over the last 20 years.”

“Very, very good communication links down there. They have a superb infrastructure.”

“Itcouldbeamajortransporthub.IseeAshfordhasmorepotentialanddevelopmentopportunitythanMaidstone.”

This summer saw thousands of people discover theirReasonsToSmileaboutAshford.As part of a major campaign promoting the town as the “smart choice” for all, Ashford’s Future aimed to drive home to commuters in London why Ashford is such an attractive place to live and work, with brilliant rail links, more space for your money, low business costs, stunning countryside, and high performing schools and education centres.

Scratch cards containing chances to win fantastic prizes were handed out to thousands of commuters at eight mainline stations in London. Prizes included Eurostar tickets, four star hotel breaks, a spa day, a golf day for four, and award-winning Kent wine.

And for those who missed out on the giveaways, the Financial Times showed exactly why Ashford is the smart choice for a fulfilling future, with a full-page promotional wrap around 8,000 copies of the newspaper in the capital.

Think you know Ashford? Think again.•37minsfromLondon•SuperfastconnectionstoEurope•Lowerofficerents•Skilledlabourforce•Betterhouseprices•Excellentqualityoflife

www.ashfordbestplaced.co.uk