Brompton Bikes submit planning application for new Kent headquarters
A planning application for a £100m new Brompton Bikes factory has been submitted for approval.
The UK’s largest bicycle manufacturer announced earlier this year that it had chosen Ashford as the company’s new global headquarters.
The planning application, submitted to Ashford Borough Council, details how the new factory will be constructed within a 100-acre floodplain, which will provide an opportunity to restore the wetland and promote walking and cycling.
The scheme would house a world class production facility and company HQ, and by 2027, the company expects to employ over 1,500 staff.
Once fully operational, the proposed development will result in around 4,000 jobs being supported locally, including supply chain jobs, jobs supported by the spending of staff and the factory operation itself.
Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Executive Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “This represents a once in a generation opportunity for the borough to develop a partnership with an internationally renowned cycling brand, that will bring jobs and opportunities to the town.
"The scheme will enable Ashford to fulfil a long-held ambition to create a wetland park that will enhance the environment and encourage more people to explore the area in a sustainable, eco-focused manner. Ashford has set the pace in Kent for inward investment and this new factory will bring many positive benefits and will put Ashford on the map as a cycling hub.
“The application will be subjected to a rigorous and meticulous planning process to ensure it meets the high standards upheld in this borough, which is at the heart of the Garden of England."
