insideKENT Magazine Issue 69 - December 2017 | Page 191

BUSINESS
140mph HIGH-SPEED RAIL HAS HELPED
PUT KENT TOWN’S HOUSING MARKET ON
THE FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS
HS1, THE UK’S ONLY DOMESTIC HIGH-SPEED RAIL SERVICE, HAS TRANSFORMED
ASHFORD’S APPEAL AS A PLACE TO LIVE.
HS1 opened in November 2007, the fast rail
line running non-stop from St Pancras
International to the Channel Tunnel. Domestic
commuter services started in December 2009,
when the sleek new Javelin trains slashed
journey times from Ashford International
to London by more than half to just 38
minutes.
Overnight the fast train service boosted
the Kent town’s appeal for homebuyers who
worked in London but craved more space,
more affordability and access to the
countryside. Today, house prices in Ashford
are on average 34% lower than Greater London.
Ashford has risen to the challenge, with a
forward-thinking local authority keen to fast-
track quality housing development,
complemented by improved employment,
educational and recreational opportunities.
Local estate agents have seen the district
blossom into one of the South East’s residential
relocation hotspots, and one of the few
bucking this year’s regional trend of stagnating
property prices.
Alex Davies, managing director of Hobbs
Parker Estate Agents, said: “The arrival of HS1
has underpinned the local property market in
recent years and its impact can be seen for 15
miles around Ashford. We no longer have to
convince people about the merits of Ashford,
it now sells itself!”
Kevin Hall, a director with Martin & Co,
Ashford, agreed. He said: “Thankfully Ashford
benefits from a forward-thinking local council,
able to fast-track development to ensure
demand for residential and commercial land
is met.”
Paul Sharp, associate director of Warner Gray
independent estate agents, based in
Tenterden, said many of the professional
families moving to the area had previously
been renting in London or North Kent.
“Since HS1 was launched, the Ashford district
has reinvented itself and is firmly on the map
when it comes to property,” he said. “As an
estate agent with 24 years’ experience, it has
been evident that when large sums of money
are invested in a town, this has had a direct
and positive impact upon house prices, job
opportunities and always brings major retail
stores and leisure brands to the area, not to
mention schooling as well.”
Cllr Gerry Clarkson, leader of Ashford Borough
Council, said high-speed services had given
Ashford's commuters “two hours of their life
back every day” to enjoy the benefits of a
thriving, family-friendly town surrounded by
beautiful countryside.
with 66 hectares of employment land and the
creation of more than 11,000 new jobs
included in the Local Plan. Employers are
flocking to Ashford, with huge investment in
new retail, leisure and business facilities.
Indeed the borough council is funding the
construction of the town centre cinema
complex at Elwick Place and contributed £3m
to bring forward the opening of the £26m
Ashford College, which opened its doors to
1,000 students in September.
New homes, built to exacting space and quality
standards agreed with the council, are
springing up to meet demand, in town centre
and rural locations. Crest Nicholson scooped
a Sunday Times award last month for its
Finberry development of 1,100 homes, while
13,000 people will live in the Garden Town of
Chilmington Green once it is completed. Work
starts soon on a lakeside development of 300
homes at Conningbrook, while 1,000
apartments and houses are to be built in
Victoria Way, just a short walk from Ashford
International and its fast rail links to the capital
and to Europe via Eurostar.
For more information about Ashford
visit www.ashfordfor.com
He’s quick to dispel any thought that Ashford
is just a commuter town – it has been
voted Kent’s number one business location,
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