Bicycle manufacturer Brompton has secured planning consent for a new £100m factory and headquarters on land near the Ashford Designer Outlet in Kent.
The company submitted the planning application for up to 46,000 sq m of employment floorspace, with help from Hollaway Studio architects and developer Quinn Estates, in December 2022.
The application site comprises approximately 40.08ha of greenfield land and is bordered by the A2042 Avenue Jacques Faucheaux to the west and the A2042/A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road to the south.
The entirety of the site is situated within ‘Flood Zone 3b’ in the Environment Agency Flood Map, which is identified as land where water from rivers or the sea has to flow or be stored in times of flood.
As a result, Ashford Borough Council will now have to refer its approval to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, Angela Rayner, who will decide if the planning inspectorate should look at the application or if the application can proceed as approved by the local authority.
Once fully operational, the proposed development will support around 4,000 jobs locally and add approximately £270m per annum of GVA to the Kent economy.
Mark Quinn, chairman and CEO of Quinn Estates, said: “This decision is great news for Brompton with approval for a development that could be a game-changer for Kent’s economy and future skills, delivering a £100m investment for Ashford and thousands of highly skilled, well-paid jobs.
“We’ve been proud to be involved in this project from the beginning when it was ignited by former leader, councillor Gerry Clarkson and carried forward by the current leader, Noel Ovenden and the team, all of whom recognised the vision of bringing another international brand to Ashford. We’re looking forward to supporting Brompton and the wider team as it moves closer towards realising the ambition.”
Nick Fenton, CEO of Locate in Kent, added: “Last night’s approval by Ashford Borough Council’s planning committee is an important step in bringing one of the world’s best-known brands to Kent with the potential to benefit Ashford and the wider county for generations to come.
“Brompton is a natural fit for Kent, a forward-thinking business in a place that has a proud tradition for manufacturing and innovation. We’re delighted that this was recognised by the company in choosing Ashford over other parts of the UK. The company has already shown its commitment to the county, including investing in Kent’s skills offer. Projects it has completed with local colleges and universities since first announcing its plans in 2022 are a sign of what is to come.”
