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Ashford Designer Outlet Confirms Construction will start in January

McLaren Construction has been appointed to build the £90 million expansion which will include:

  •  100,000 sq ft. extension will open in Autumn 2019
  • £90 million investment in to the project
  • 50 new premium and luxury brands, including a new food piazza
  • 500 further jobs generated across the Centre
  • 725 additional parking spaces

This will be Ashford Designer Outlet’s first extension since opening in 2000. The existing 185,000 sq ft. centre, which has the world’s largest tented retail structure, was designed by the renowned architect Richard Rogers who is famous for the Lloyd’s building in London as well as The O2 Arena.

McArthurGlen first announced plans to expand the centre in 2014 and secured planning approval from Ashford Borough Council in September 2015. During that time the centre’s popularity has continued to soar and it now welcomes over 3.6 million guests every year to take advantage of year-round savings of up to 60 per cent, with increasing numbers of London visitors and European and international tourists.

Peter Corr, Centre Manager at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford, said: “After four years of meticulous planning we’re incredibly excited to confirm that building works on the new extension will commence this January. Over the next 18 months we will be investing £90 million into the centre to elevate the whole shopping experience for our guests, while also working hard to ensure our visitor experience remains memorable and enjoyable during this time. Once the extension is complete Ashford Designer Outlet will become one of the UK’s flagship fashion, food and homeware destinations, with over 130 stores, restaurants and cafes.“

Scheduled to open in Autumn 2019, the extension will deliver up to 50 additional premium and luxury brands, a new food piazza, 725 further parking spaces as well as a new events space and redesigned children’s play area. The expansion will also include the installation of Europe’s largest living wall structure and many of the stores in the new phase will be clad in tens of thousands of plants, all stacked vertically.

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