Kentish Express Ashford & District
Homes and jobs from Big 8 partnership
Thousands of new jobs and homes are being promised under a pioneering deal between Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council (KCC) that will see the two team up on key investment schemes.
The new partnership is to focus on projects dubbed the Big 8 that, according to a report, have the potential to create 13,650 jobs and 13,600 homes in the town.
But t he t i ming of t he announcement coincided with the news that one of those schemes is being shelved because of funding cuts.
A plan for a new international dance academy run by the Jasmin Vardimon company based at the Stour Centre has been put on the back burner after the costs rose to £16 million – almost double original estimates.
However, council chiefs insist the deal “is an opportunity for Ashford and Kent to build a new and even stronger relationship to deliver an ambitious programme of quality, sustainable economic growth”.
They also hope it will show the benefits of joint working between councils and “will enable Ashford to realise its key role in the economic future of Kent”. The eight projects are: • completing the Chilmington Green housing development; • building Ashford College; • developing the Ashford International Station spur line;
• The Jasmin Vardimon Dance Academy;
• create the Elwick Place commercial scheme;
• expansion of the Designer Outlet;
• construct junction 10a of the M20;
• develop the “commercial quarter” near the station.
Barbara Cooper, KCC’s economic development director, said that the Ashford deal had already shown its worth by securing money for improvements to the A28 as part of the Chilmington Green development.
KCC is to strike similar deals with every other district and borough councils in the county.