McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford launches £90m expansion

This autumn Ashford Designer Outlet will reveal the 100,000 sq. ft. expansion, making the centre South of England’s go-to for fashion, food, homeware, with over 130 premium brands, restaurants, cafes and guest experiences.

This second phase comes at a time of rapid growth for the business, which opened Europe’s first designer outlet in the UK in 1995 and now operates 24 centres in nine countries. The new expansion will welcome approximately 500 jobs within the Ashford local community as well as an additional 750 new parking spaces to guests. The development is one of several major projects highlighted by Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council as key employment and economic drivers in the development of the town.

The new expansion will see the addition of up to 50 new leading names in fashion, food and homeware, bringing the total number of brands to over 130 premium brands coming this autumn include Armani, Coach and Karl Lagerfeld. Footwear favourites Dr Marten’s, UGG and Dune, well-known fashion brands GANT and Joules as well as premium sportswear brand Longstanding stores, Polo Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss and Cath Kidston will also be moving and upsizing to sit within the new development.

Forming part of the £90m expansion, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford has partnered with green infrastructure company, Biotecture to create Europe’s largest living wall. The 120,000 plants required for the project – equating to the length of 60 double decker buses – will vertically cover 25,000 sq. ft., spanning across the walls of the new entry promenade, various walkways and many of the new stores.

Peter Corr, Centre Manager at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford commented: “As South East England’s leading designer outlet, our centre has seen 18 years of growth and evolution. We welcome over 3.5 million visitors every year and in response to market demand, this autumn we are launching a new phase that will elevate the whole shopping experience for our guests and the retail environment for our brand partners.”