More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Multi-million pound film studios linked to Netflix, Amazon and HBO are set to open in 2025, it has been revealed.
Bosses are currently carrying out preliminary works at the former Newtown railway works site in Ashford after gaining planning permission in 2020.
Full construction is expected to begin next August, with the whole project due to be completed in July 2025.
Although no specific operator has been confirmed, Netflix, Amazon and HBO have all been linked with the scheme, which will transform the derelict facility into 7,440 sq m of filming and production space.
Four film studios will be included in the plan, as well as an 18-storey hotel, 300 flats, commercial units, a rooftop restaurant and a 383-space multi-storey car park.
The project was solely owned by Quinn Estates but 65% is now owned by Ashford International Development Company Limited after a purchase understood to have cost several million pounds.
The company was set up by Ashford Borough Council, which has named the scheme as one of its new 'Super 6' projects.
Council bosses have detailed the ambitious long-term projects they want to focus on developing over the next few years.
They are:
It has earmarked wetlands along the Avenue Jacques Faucheux dual carriageway, close to Asda, for the new scheme which will eventually create thousands of jobs.
A planning application is yet to be submitted.
Work is already under way for phase two of the expansion to Ashford College.
The new 'engineering hub' building will allow about 250 extra students to study with the college, which is run by the EKC Group.
This latest phase will see the new hub take shape on land immediately adjacent to the campus, resulting in an attached building.
It is unclear what the redevelopment of the former Mecca Bingo hall could look like as controversial plans were redrawn earlier this year.
It was initially thought it would involve building around 200 homes on the car park at the rear, but this was then thrown out.
Ashford Borough Council is currently searching for an operator to take the site on.
For Park Mall shopping centre, it was suggested in 2020 it could one be turned into a residential development with existing independent traders moving to Bank Street, but the plans are yet to progress.
The South of Ashford Garden Community (SAGC) includes Chilmington Green, Court Lodge and Kingsnorth Green developments, and was named as one of 19 'garden communities' by the government in 2019.
Both Court Lodge and Kingsnorth Green are allocated in Ashford's Local Plan 2030, and are now joined with Chilmington Green to become designated as a 'garden community'.
ABC previously worked on a 'Big 8', another series of large developments across the town.
They included the construction of Junction 10a, the expansion of the Designer Outlet, the creation of Ashford College in Station Road, and the Jasmin Vardimon dance studio on Henwood Industrial Estate, which is due to open in December.
It also focused on building Elwick Place, developing Chilmington Green, the Commercial Quarter at Dover Place and improving international rail connectivity with the 'Ashford spurs' project.
Commenting on the creation of the 'Super 6', council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson (Con) said: “There are other important projects which will be considered for inclusion over time and we need to take a flexible approach to allow ourselves to grasp opportunities when they present themselves, so there's a real scope to expand on these projects.
“The Super 6 will give a strong vehicle to publicise other projects outside of the list to a more captive audience, as was successfully achieved with the Big 8.
"It provides a new focus and impetus for a new inward investment campaign to help deliver these ambitious projects, but also to put Ashford on the map nationally, ensuring the maximum opportunity to attract future investment and government funding.”
