‘Containers’ appear at Hilton hotel

‘It certainly looks strange, especially when some of the containers seem to say ‘do not stack’, but it’s a tried and tested way of building hotels...’ - Peter Morris-Kelso

A large stack of ‘shipping containers’ has appeared as work continues on Ashford’s new six-storey hotel.

Intrigued residents have noticed the pods being stacked up on the 140-room Hampton by Hilton site on the corner of Victoria Road and Beaver Road.

While the chain has not commented on the nature of the containers, they appear to be prefabricated room modules.

The ‘prefab method’ is being used increasingly often by hotel chains as a more cost-effective and speedy way of building new sites.

Aldington resident Peter Morris-Kelso, who works nearby at Travis Perkins, said: “Quite a few people have questioned it because they haven’t seen it before.

“It certainly looks strange, especially when some of the containers seem to say ‘do not stack’, but it’s a tried and tested way of building hotels.

“If it is what they are doing, then most likely each container will have two rooms and a section of corridor.

“They are bolted together and then cladding is built around it; I would say it was more or less maximum height right now.

“I used to work in a hotel nearby which had an extension that was built in that way - by using that method they will have saved themselves about a year in construction I would say.”

The Hampton by Hilton has been in construction since December last year, with the firm finally confirming it would run the site in January.

In February, a spokesman said the building was due to open this December, creating 25 jobs, with recruitment due to start this month.

However, construction was paused due to the coronavirus lockdown and it is not clear if it will still open later this year.

When it does welcome its first guests, the hotel will face stiff competition from the nearby Travelodge at Elwick Place.

The Kentish Express contacted Hampton by Hilton for a comment, but did not receive a response.

■ What do you think? Email kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk

The ‘shipping containers’ at Ashford’s Hampton by Hilton hotel site have been generating interest on the corner of Victoria Road and Beaver Road

The BP petrol station in Beaver Road - next to the hotel - is now surrounded by flats

This image released to the Express shows how the 140-bedroom hotel is set to look

Picture: Freddie Clements A large crane has been seen lifting the containers