Application to be lodged within months

Quinn Estates says the application - due to be submitted at the end of April or May - also seeks to bring the green corridor site back into public use with a wetland park.

Bosses will discuss what should be implemented in it with the Kent Stour Countryside Partnership.

Mr Quinn added: “All you have there at the moment are dogs fouling and people dumping asbestos.

“I think there’s a lot we can do with it.

“Altogether, the site is 40 acres, 12% of which will be taken up with residential development.

“So the other 88% will be green space that can be used by the public.

“We’ll be looking into making attractive walk-throughs to the Designer Outlet and the town centre, making sure we don’t contribute to traffic issues - this could include paying for parking restrictions on surrounding roads.”

Contributions towards community centres in the area are also being investigated, with the British Rail Sports and Social Club and the Christ Church Community Centre earmarked for funding.

Mr Quinn said: “What we’ve asked people is do they want to have a new community centre on the site and they said no.

“When you have more centres, it makes each one less viable so we’re looking into contributions to existing centres.

“The flats will bring economically active people.

“We’re putting economically active people close to the town centre.

“I think that’s what’s helping Ashford buck the national trend of decline.”

Picture: Dean Morse Systems Engineering A shot from 2014 shows the extent of flooding in the area