A developer involved in one of Kent’s biggest housing projects has gone into administration – casting doubt over key infrastructure.
Administrators have been appointed to Hodson Developments (Ashford) Ltd and four associated companies, just months after it failed to avoid more than £50 million in agreed contributions.
Chilmington Green was planned to be Ashford’s largest estate. Picture: Barry Goodwin
The firm is the lead developer behind the 5,750-home Chilmington Green “garden town” on the outskirts of Ashford, approved in 2014.
But the collapse now raises serious questions over the future of major infrastructure tied to the scheme – including the £30m A28 dualling project.
Three planned primary schools and a range of community facilities also appear uncertain.
Around 400 homes have been built so far, along with a primary and secondary school.
More than 5,000 homes – plus shops, healthcare and sports facilities – are still due to follow.
Plans to widen the A28 Chart Road between the ‘tank’ roundabout and Matalan roundabout are once again up in the air. Picture: Gary Browne
The administration comes two months after Hodson lost a long-running appeal to back out of its section 106 obligations, originally agreed in 2017.
An Ashford Borough Council spokesperson confirmed it is now assessing the impact.
“Along with Kent County Council, we are taking legal advice on any impact this may have on the developers’ obligations under the section 106 agreement with both councils, and on the ongoing legal action relating to those commitments,” they said.
“In January, the planning inspector dismissed an appeal by Hodson which sought over 100 changes to its section 106 agreement, following a lengthy public inquiry last year.
“The inspector supported the council’s position on nearly all matters, including the important point that the developers’ obligations to improve the A28 should not be lifted.
Hodson was told to dual the stretch between Matalan and the “tank” roundabout in January
“We will continue to do all we can, alongside Kent County Council, to ensure these obligations are delivered, subject to the effects of the administration.”
The council stressed the situation does not affect other developers involved in Chilmington Green – Hodson Developments (CG THREE) Ltd, BDW and Jarvis Homes.
Hodson had attempted to discharge or delay 122 obligations covering education, affordable housing, social care and community facilities, with its case examined during a nine-day public inquiry between February and May last year.
A decision issued on January 20 saw 106 of those requests dismissed, with a further 11 withdrawn.
That ruling meant the A28 upgrade – to dual Chart Road between the Matalan and “Tank” roundabouts – would have to proceed, with KCC previously describing it as an “integral part” of the development.
Sojan Joseph is the MP for Ashford
Ashford MP Sojan Joseph told KentOnline the developer must still meet its commitments.
“I will continue to support residents and work with local authorities to ensure that developers fulfil their responsibilities and provide adequate infrastructure,” the Labour representative said.
“These tactics, deployed by Hodson, in order to stall the necessary improvements, are completely unacceptable and I will, of course, be following this situation closely and assisting the community in any way I can.”
Weald Central’s Cllr Jessamy Blanford said the uncertainty would be worrying for residents.
“I’m sad about it all as it’s very hard on everyone who has bought properties,” the Conservative said.
Cllr Jessamy Blanford represents the Chilmington Green development
“They’ll not know what the future is and whether they’ll get things like shops and medical facilities as they were promised. We don’t know if they’ll materialise now.
“So why they have chosen this moment, I’m not quite sure.
“The next thing could be whether another developer takes over. They could put in an offer, I suppose.”
KentOnline has approached Hodson for comment on what the administration means for construction, infrastructure delivery and future residents.
Previously, the company argued the scale of its section 106 commitments had affected the “delivery and viability” of the project, citing planning delays, utility issues, changes to its development model, nutrient neutrality rules and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hundreds of homes have been built at Chilmington Green, Ashford
However, the planning inspector ruled financial viability was not a decisive factor in determining whether the obligations should be reduced.
Under the legal agreement, Hodson was required to fund the A28 works once 400 homes were occupied – a threshold it was nearing when the inquiry began.
The maximum contribution for the road scheme alone was set at £32.7m, including construction, design and contingency costs.
Overall, the developer had sought relief from obligations totalling around £50m – including funding for schools, social care and community projects – and had even proposed scrapping a fourth primary school entirely.
Following the dismissal of that appeal on January 20, a spokesperson for Hodson told KentOnline the company was “surprised and disappointed” by the outcome, adding: “We will now spend some time reviewing the decision with our planning advisors and consider our options.”
Chilmington Green was originally planned as a 20-year project, with 250 to 300 homes expected to be built annually.