Victoria Way, Ashford

Firstplan has acted for National Grid Property Holdings in respect of the Former Gas Works in Ashford, Kent since 2006. Firstplan initially became involved when a new road was proposed to cross the 2.49 hectare site, as part of a major regeneration area in Ashford.

Negotiations commenced to secure the re-alignment of the proposed road, together with the use of the site for primarily residential development. The negotiation involved various consultation processes, including the Examinations in Public for the Ashford Core Strategy and the Town Centre Area Action Plan. Firstplan co-ordinated the preparation of a masterplan indicating how 610 dwellings could be provided on the site, and planning permission has now been obtained (2011) for the remediation of the site. The road (Victoria Way) has now been built to give access to the previously landlocked site, thereby allowing National Grid’s regeneration aspirations to come forward.

Firstplan is now instructed to prepare and submit a planning application for residential development.