Ashfords advises borough council on multi-million pound regeneration of former railway works

Law firm Ashfords has advised Ashford Borough Council in respect of a project for the regeneration of a brownfield site (and former railway works) into film studios, commercial space and housing.

The project received a £14.7m grant from the Levelling Up Fund which, together with investment from the council will bring a derelict and historically significant site back into use.

Ashfords advised on:

• the structuring of a corporate joint venture;
• the financing of the project;
• drafting and negotiating construction contracts;
• grant funding, subsidy control and procurement considerations; and
• local government and FOI issues.

The law firm said: “The Newtown Works site has a fascinating history, and contains some of the longest Grade II listed railway sheds in the UK. The project is set to be one of the most important economic drivers for the borough in the next few years, creating thousands of jobs and making the town a hub for the creative arts industry.”

Ashfords first became involved in the project when the council was making its application to the Levelling Up Fund. Its subsidy control experts provided an assessment of the project to support the application. Following confirmation of the successful bid, the law firm went on to advise on the other elements of the project, drawing on its specialist lawyers in the corporate, banking, construction, real estate, planning and risk and regulation teams.

The project officially launched on 25 November 2022 and full construction is set to commence in summer 2023.