Work set to start on building in Ashford town centre that has stood unoccupied for more than 20 years as regeneration of town centre begins

A building in Ashford town centre which has stood unoccupied for more than 20 years is about to be demolished to make way for high-quality apartments located a short walk from Ashford International Station, with its 38-minute fast rail connection to central London.  

Swanton House – next to Ashford College in Elwick Road and backing onto the Memorial Gardens – will be replaced by 34 apartments for rent as part of Ashford Borough Council’s ‘brownfield first’ programme.

The building, which had fallen into disrepair, was purchased in 2019 by the development arm of A Better Choice for Property Ltd (A Better Choice for Development Property Ltd), an independent private rented sector company owned by Ashford Borough Council.

A planning application submitted in June 2020 to demolish the dilapidated building and build 34 apartments in two blocks was initially deferred by Planning Committee, querying whether the design was sympathetic enough with the surrounding conservation area.

The scheme was redesigned to be more in keeping with the character of the area, with pitched roofs and the introduction of metal-clad gabled features to represent the surrounding 19th century architecture as well as the features on Swanton House itself.

The Swanton House apartments will include a mix of six three-bedroom flats, 24 two-bedroom flats and four one-bedroom flats, all with private balconies and built to a very high specification. 25 of the 27 car parking spaces will be fitted with electric vehicle charging points.

A Better Choice for Property Development Ltd says the designs “blend the positive features of the previous scheme to create a positive architectural design that both reflect the ever-changing streetscape of Elwick Road as well as appreciating the local conservation architecture that the previous Swanton House proudly emphasised”. 

Inside the building a panel will acknowledge the local history of the site, which served as an auxiliary military hospital in the First World War and was later used by Kent County Council Social Services.

After years of delay due to Stodmarsh, the project is now on the verge of starting with hoardings due to be erected around the Elwick Road site this month and demolition of the building scheduled to start soon. 

The Stodmarsh issues have been resolved through the Council’s innovative actions on delivering nutrient neutrality credits from its own housing by reducing water usage. In effect, ABC’s current homes are enabling the building of much-needed new homes in the River Stour catchment area.

About A Better Choice for Property Ltd

ABC for Property is an independent private rented sector company, wholly owned by Ashford Borough Council. Its aim is to build a private market rental portfolio of up to 500 properties which will not only provide A Better Choice for Property for its working tenants but also a significant alternative revenue stream to the Council in the future.

ABC for Property Development is the development arm of ABC for Property and is undertaking the Swanton House project alongside others, including the Infinity development of around 220 properties opposite the International Railway station on the former Homeplus site.