Ashford Designer Outlet set to double in size as market heats up

McArthurGlen, which owns the Ashford outlet, is preparing to submit a planning application in early 2014 to extend the site by 150,000 sq ft. This would take it from its current 183,000sq ft to around 333,000 sq ft.

If the plans are agreed it hopes to start works by late 2014.

The outlet market has been hotting up after Quintain opened London’s first designer outlet in Wembley last month, trading from a 350,000 sq ft centre.

McArthurGlen’s managing director for development Gary Bond said: “With the planned expansion, we are looking to create the next generation of designer outlet, reflecting the quality of our flagship McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in Continental Europe, and taking the customer experience to a new level, bringing in exciting new brands, as well as café and restaurant concepts.”

Bond said that the alongside the extension, the whole Ashford outlet design will be refreshed

McArthurGlen is poised to begin work to extend its Swindon Designer Outlet by 50,000 sq ft as part of a £35m revamp.

Bond added: “We have been looking at expanding a number of our Designer Outlets in the UK, in particular where we have strong support from local councils who understand the benefits of creating a shopping destination that acts as a tourism magnet for the local region.”