A planning application that will see the Designer Outlet double in size has finally been submitted to Ashford Borough Council.

Plans for the massive expansion - which would be built towards Ashford town centre - were submitted this month from agents Montagu Evans LLP on behalf of the Outlet's owners, McArthurGlen.

The application includes plans to demolish part of the existing centre where the coach drop off point and Food Court are and construct new buildings and structures for both retail and restaurant units.

Other plans include re-configuring the existing car park, improving the links between the shopping mall and the town centre and landscaping works.

Plans to expand the shopping centre, in Kimberley Way, were first revealed by the Kentish Express last year.

Artist impressions of what the new and improved centre will look like when complete were then released by Outlet bosses in September this year.

Owners McArthurGlen revealed, if approved, the development would be delivered in two stages, with the first phase expected to open in 2016 or early 2017 and the second by 2019.

As well as extending north and south of the existing Outlet, there are also plans to add restaurant space within the middle of the current shopping centre.

In total, an extra 175,000 sq ft of retail space would be added to the current 185,000 sq ft.

Two thousand jobs are expected to be created when the development is complete.

Now, the planning application for the extension has been submitted to the council and a period of consultation will take place until Sunday, December 7.

The application, which is subject to an environmental assessment, can be viewed here, and comments can be made online or in writing.