Ashford council looks to kick-start development

摘要

No one can recall when the last speculative office was built in Ashford. However, by the end of this year, construction will get under way on a 60,000 sq ft office scheme next to the town's international train station. Ashford Borough Council has decided to take a hands-on approach to regeneration in the town by bringing forward a number of key development opportunities like this site. Ashford is at the forefront of a growing number of local authorities that are using their borrowing powers to set up property companies to enable development. As Andrew Osborne, the council's economic development manager, explains: "Because we are a local authority, we can borrow at a lower rate, and that's how we approach difficult development sites." The town has embraced this freedom, which was granted under the Localism Act of 2011, first because few private developers were buying the publicly owned sites, and second because members and officers of the Conservative-led council are keen to develop property and to use the rents to keep down council tax.