Over the past few years Ashford has been subject to a barrage of change.

From the replacement of part of the ring road with the shared space scheme, to the construction of new supermarkets and housing estates.

There's also been the extension of County Square, the Designer Outlet, a remodeling of the Stour leisure centre, new care homes and a huge library - not forgetting the installation of the controversial ‘Bolt' sculpture.

The area has been subject to a planning frenzy and there is a lot more to come.

But things don’t always turn out as planned or look quite how they were expected to.

Here, we take a look through the top 10 landmark plans, comparing the artists' impressions to the real thing.

1: EUREKA SKYWAY BRIDGE

The award-winning Eureka Skyway footbridge across the M20 quickly became an iconic Ashford landmark. The bridge opened at the end of 2011 and has not only improved pedestrian and cycle links between the town centre and the Eureka leisure park but has also helped regeneration in Ashford.

2. THE STOUR CENTRE

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) began a major remodelling of the Stour Centre in 2004. Ambitious plans shown in the earlier drawings from 2002 show water flumes coming out of the main construction. But that’s not how the building looks today. Central government rejected a council bid to borrow money to fund it so some of the quirkier plans, including a water feature and bubble fountain at the entrance, were abandoned.

3. THE BOLT SCULPTURE

Love it or loathe it, The Bolt was meant to link Ashford’s ever expanding future with its railway past. Originally planned as a stainless steel structure, it was eventually made in Cor-ten steel, which does not require painting. It was designed to be the centrepiece of the corner of the West Street and Elwick Road junction by award-winning artist John Atkin and was constructed in October 2008. The original planning documents said it would “reference Ashford’s engineering heritage and inject an element of humour and intrigue.” Cheeky pranksters subjected it to a well-received, festive makeover as a Christmas pudding last year.

4. COUNTY SQUARE

Construction on the site in the old Stanhay car park started in August 2005 and it took nearly three years to complete. The shopping centre almost doubled in size, providing an additional 21 shops and bringing the total number in the centre to more than 60. Joining Debenhams at the time were fashion names including Next, River Island, New Look, H & M and Jane Norman. Around 55,000 shoppers visited the new square in the first three days.

5. WAITROSE SUPERMARKET

It is not quite the picture of serenity that was first seen in this artist’s impression for the town’s first Waitrose store at Repton Park. The plans were approved in September 2008 and when it came to applying for the 120 jobs on offer, more than 1,000 residents sent in their application forms. The store opened in November 2009.

6. THE FLUME

The controversial and expensive landmark has been met with endless criticism. It cost a hefty £100,000 to install into the pavement in Bank Street and Elwick Road and the idea was to guide people between the town centre and Ashford International station. It was installed as part of the £14 million ring road project but caused construction delays to the whole project. Within a few months the problems became apparent and now, six years later, the stones are damaged, badly stained and it is often clogged with rubbish and cigarette butts. Kent County Council and ABC have recently announced plans to rip the whole thing up.

7. ASHFORD GATEWAY LIBRARY

The £7.56 million Ashford Gateway Plus building – better known as the library - opened in 2011. The design, first submitted in September 2009, is slightly different from the original artist’s impression, which features the distinctive curved frontage but not the metal structures coming down over the entrance.

8. ASHFORD DESIGNER OUTLET

A factory outlet was granted planning permission in 1998 and in March 2000 the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet opened. The centre appears to have abandoned the idea of having a large clock at the entrance. In November 2014, the outlet confirmed expansion plans that will see the centre almost double in size. The multimillion-pound plans will include extensions to both ends of the outlet and the creative drawings show design quirks, such as living walls. It will be interesting to see if the future Outlet looks anything like these artists' impressions.

9. JOHN LEWIS

The multi-million pound shop opened its doors to customers for the first time in November 2013. The John Lewis At Home store, situated between junction 9 of the M20 and the Drovers roundabout, includes a customer cafe and computer terminals. It created 125 jobs in the town and staff are regularly involved in fundraising and community events.

10: ASHFORD INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

The creation of a new college in the centre of Ashford has recently moved a step closer. Ashford Borough Council’s Cabinet agreed to provide a £2 million loan to secure funding to build the Ashford International College Campus on the junction of Elwick Road and Station Road. Parent organisation, The Hadlow Group, has a long-term plan to move the existing college in Jemmett Road, South Ashford to the new site after it is redeveloped. Watch this space.