Handelsbanken, one of Sweden’s leading banks, is to open a branch in Ashford.

The bank will take a large space at International House, an office block near the station that was recently acquired by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) as part of the planned Commercial Quarter development.

The company has 200 branches nationwide.

David Kiernan of Handelsbanken spoke of Ashford’s connection to HS1 as a key factor in their decision to set up a branch here, with London’s St Pancras only 38 minutes away by train.

He said: “The station is on our doorstep, so commuters will be able to pop in to see us on their way to work.”

The Commercial Quarter development aims to forge a business hub for the South East. The first phase of this includes Ashford and surrounding areas, with the potential to provide up to 150 homes and several thousand jobs, as well as 55,000 sq m of office space.

Stewart Smith, senior commercial development manager at ABC, spoke of “advance negotiations with a number of other potential tenants” for the office block.

The council is currently using £1.3 million from the Homes and Communities Agency to make the Commercial Quarter an attractive area, with improved pedestrian routes between the railway station and town centre.