A blueprint showing how 3,000 homes, 8,000 jobs, 70,000 sq metres of retail/leisure space and 95,000 sq metres of office development space will be created in Ashford over the next 10 years has been approved by the Ashford Borough Council.

The plans include the new Gateway Library Plus, a mixture of shops, leisure facilities and new homes opposite the County Square extension along Elwick Road and a new business hub close to the station and development along Victoria Way, the new link road south of the railway line linking to the station to south Ashford.

The Ashford Town Centre Area Action Plan, part of the Local Development Framework and sets out policies to guide future planning application, was adopted on the 18th February 2010 and runs until 2021 covering the expanded town centre area.

Richard Alderton, Head of Planning and Development for Ashford Borough Council, said: "An expanded town centre will be the economic engine for Ashford. This plan will help shape future developments and make the town centre a place for people to live, work and enjoy for many
years to come."

> Ashford Borough Council