Why Ashford is setting to become a major filming hub
Plans are in place for Ashford to become a major filming hub, creating thousands of jobs and boosting the local economy.
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Disney Plus are just some of the most popular streaming services that have created a global surge in demand for new film and television productions. Now the company behind the planned revamp of Twickenham Studios are looking to regenerate the old Newtown railway works in Ashford into a new media hub for the UK.
Drawing on inspiration from the regenerated Industry City in Brooklyn and New York High Line, The Creative District Improvement Company (TCDI) have partnered with Kent-based Quinn Estates to back a £250 million investment into the derelict site. The space, the plans of which were approved in April 2020, is forecasted to bring an additional £100 million a year to Ashford’s economy and provide 2000 full-time jobs.
Four film studios will occupy 80,000 square feet of the development in addition to another 80,000 square feet of ancillary production space. With Netflix looking for more studio space in Europe, no doubt they will looking at the new facilities with great interest. A new 30,000 square feet media village will also be built which will incorporate the Future Media Centre. Working closely with local universities & colleges, the centre will develop the skills needed in the industry and is set to become the largest film school in the country. This work will be linked closely with that of the publicly funded Thames Estuary Production Corridor which is a long-term project to link North Kent, East London and South Essex and of which Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London says "Our vision for the world's largest creative production corridor is bold. It will position London and the South East as a world leader for the creative industries on a scale never seen before, creating a landmark corridor along the Estuary, powering skills opportunities and new jobs."
The new development will also deliver a brand new 120-room hotel, 68-serviced apartments as well as restaurants and a 10,000 square feet gym. With an anticipated completion date of 2022, the conversion of the former railway works will be an incredible boost to the local area. From the construction stage through to its completion, the opportunities for local people will be fantastic and the boost that will be needed following the impact of the coronavirus.
With high-speed (HS1) rail lines to London and large investments in the town with existing projects such as Elwick Place and a £90 million expansion at the Ashford Designer Outlets, the future for this Kent market town looks set to soar. By keeping up with digital age demand, the potential for growth is huge and will make the town even more attractive for future investment. With the average house price, according to Rightmove, increasing by 3% since the 2017 peak the housing market is also appearing to reinforce the message that now is the right time to invest in Ashford.
From spacious country houses in Ashford’s surrounding villages to new-build, luxury apartments in the town centre, Sandersons have over 25 years’ experience of managing and selling properties. As local property experts, we can provide expert advice for those either looking to relocate to the area or considering investment opportunities in the town.