Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘GAME-CHANGER’
Bold £250m film studios scheme at former Newtown railway works gets green light MP says planning approval could be one of the ‘biggest decisions ever made for the town’
An ambitious plan to convert a disused train factory into high-end film studios has been passed, with Ashford’s MP hailing it “game-changing”.
The abandoned Newtown railway works is set to be transformed into the Ashford International Film Studios by 2022, bringing with it 300 flats in the former engine sheds, an 18-storey hotel and retail space.
The site will feature four film stages with the likes of Netflix and Amazon “poised” to get in on the action.
University students will also be trained in film-making at the development, which is a joint venture between Quinn Estates, The Creative District Improvement Company and funding partner U+I.
Ashford Borough Council (ABC) held its first fully virtual council meeting last Wednesday, a three-and-a-half hour discussion that saw the planning committee approve the proposal.
However, the South Willesborough and Newtown Community Council had a number of reservations, pertaining to a lack of parking, loss of TV and satellite signal, no affordable housing and a limited amount of community space.
But portfolio holder for planning and development, Cllr Neil Shorter (Con), quickly instigated the motion to approve.
He said: “I note the local community council and its concerns but I think on balance most of the consultation points seem to have been addressed and some amendments to the proposals have been made as a consequence, which I’m really pleased to see.
“On balance the proposal brings a key brownfield site with key architectural sheds back into use and actually preserves the sheds - maybe not in an ideal way but in a way that’s actually manageable and deliverable that wasn’t able to be achieved in the previous 30 years or so.”
However questions were raised over the design of the 18-storey tower, which will be the borough’s tallest building and house a 120-room hotel and serviced apartments.
Labour’s Diccon Spain motioned to defer the plan to get a better design, stating: “With such a dominant building that will be there for decades if not hundreds of years, I’m particularly thinking about the tower that will be visible for miles around.
“I don’t believe that tower and the hotel are distinctive in design.
“They remind me of the standard tower blocks from the 1950s.”
Conservative Bernard Heyes agreed with the design concerns, saying: “It’s incredibly devoid of any merit - it actually reminds me of a rocket on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral and is definitely out-of-keeping with the Newtown area.
“The main sheds have definitely lost a significant amount of their historical integrity by the nature of their conversions.”
Conversely, Cllr William Howard (Con) thought design amendments had vastly improved the proposal, likening the tower’s sloped roof to that of the landmark Curious Brewery, and seconded the motion to approve.
Ashford Labour leader Brendan Chilton was particularly concerned with the issue of nearby residents’ satellite reception being lost.
His pursuit of answers as to whether there will be an impact led to a condition being attached to the planning permission, that a survey must be carried out ahead of time to identify any potential signal loss.
Another condition added as a result of Wednesday’s meeting is that a thorough archaeological survey should be conducted on-site.
This came after Cllrs Jessamy Blanford, George Sparks, Bernard Heyes, Paul Clokie, Brendan Chilton and Euan Anckorn asked the site’s heritage be retained and highlighted as much as possible.
The council officer present, Roland Mills, responded that one of the cranes and the turntables will be kept as features while public art and signage will identify the site’s history.
The historic clock tower close to the Newtown railway bridge will be retained in the scheme, which also includes a rooftop restaurant.
Access to the film studios also proved a sticking point, with requests to widen the Crowbridge Road humpback bridge nullified due to the land’s ownership either side of the bridge.
Parking was also raised as an existing issue, one which the community council fears could become worse with the construction of the studios.
The scheme includes 383 spaces in a multi-storey car park for 300 apartments, despite also having a studio complex, hotel and educational centre.
It was suggested that yellow lines could be put on nearby roads to prevent overspill parking and it was hoped the community council could be consulted on particular trouble-spots.
Following a lengthy debate on all of these concerns, often assuaged by officer Roland Mills’ comprehensive knowledge of the plan, a vote was held.
Cllr Shorter and Cllr Howard’s proposal to permit was approved by 12 members, while two abstained and three voted against the motion.
Cllr Diccon Spain’s motion to defer, and an approval motion made by Cllr Chilton with slightly altered financial contribution conditions, weren’t voted on.
What do you think about the scheme? Write to Kentish Express, Unit 4, Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford, TN24 8RY or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk