The controversial demolition of a shopping centre has begun as diggers move onto the site.
Contractors from O’Connell Demolition Ltd are tearing down Park Mall in Ashford town centre ahead of a planned redevelopment.
Contractors are demolishing Park Mall shopping centre in Ashford town centre
Work was expected to begin on the neighbouring Edinburgh Road car park, but demolition teams have instead started on the shopping centre and its former car park.
Site owner Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is yet to appoint a “development partner” to take on the redevelopment project, but is planning a “residential-led, mixed-use development” on the site.
It is currently searching for a partner to take on the longer-term scheme, which is estimated to cost £144m.
A contract is expected to be awarded in early 2027.
ABC says a temporary 200-space car park will open on the former Park Mall car park site before Christmas.
Part of Ashford town centre will soon look very different as work continues on the Park Mall siteContractors are currently demolishing Park Mall shopping centre and its car park; they will then move to the neighbouring Edinburgh Road car park
The authority, which is run by an Ashford Independents/Green Party coalition, has long held ambitions to build homes on the land.
Bosses say the shopping centre was “not financially sustainable” amid a declining retail sector, the loss of anchor tenants such as Wilko and escalating maintenance costs.
Its decision to flatten the centre sparked anger among traders, with many backing a petition calling on ABC to only demolish part of the site.
All traders had to leave the centre by January this year.
The mall opened in 1987 after a number of homes were cleared to make space for the development.
Heavy machinery has moved onto the site in recent weeks, and now demolition has begunHow Park Mall shopping centre looked in JanuaryHow the Park Mall site looks from Sussex AvenueAshford Borough Council’s plan for the Park Mall and Edinburgh Road car park sites
ABC previously said the demolition project could take up to 12 months to complete.
A five-year limit has been placed on planning permission for the interim 200-space car park.