Ashford Designer Outlet
A McArthurGlen designer outlet shopping centre in Ashford, Kent, offering discounted fashion, lifestyle, food and leisure retail.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ashford Designer Outlet is a designer outlet shopping centre in Ashford, Kent, England, operated as part of the McArthurGlen outlet portfolio. It combines outlet retail with food, visitor amenities and public-facing architectural and landscaping features. The centre was conceived during the redevelopment of land associated with the Ashford Meadows Leisure Park planning process and was designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership, now associated with Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, with engineering by Buro Happold. Construction began during the 1990s, and the centre opened to visitors in March 2000. The original scheme contained approximately 185,000 square feet of retail space and was notable for a long architectural canopy extending for more than 300 metres. Its opening was marked by BBC presenter Charlie Dimmock, and the centre received retail-industry recognition within its first year. The outlet’s proposition is based on a broad selection of branded goods sold through outlet stores, generally combining fashion, accessories, sportswear, home-related products, food and visitor services in a destination format rather than a conventional high-street shop cluster. The centre has been associated with more than 120 designer and lifestyle brands, although its exact tenant mix changes over time. Plans to substantially enlarge the centre were confirmed in 2013. Ashford Borough Council approved the relevant planning application in 2015, after which construction activity began in the late 2010s. The expansion was developed as an approximately £90 million project adding around 100,000 square feet of retail space and introducing new stores, including Coach, Sandro, Maje and Karl Lagerfeld. Construction affected local access, including the temporary closure of Newtown Road and changes to the original food court. A new playground costing approximately £400,000 opened in May 2019, adding a family-oriented amenity to the enlarged destination. The completed extension opened in November 2019. A prominent feature of the expansion was a large planted vertical wall, described by the centre as the largest living wall of its kind in Europe at the time. The feature formed part of the development’s environmental and visual identity and was reported as covering approximately 25,000 square feet. In 2020, the centre promoted the green wall as part of the completed expansion and broader visitor experience. The site ordinarily attracted substantial daily footfall before the COVID-19 pandemic, but non-essential stores were closed during lockdown restrictions and reopened in April 2021. In 2021, McArthurGlen sought greater flexibility over the permitted closing hours of newer restaurants. Management argued that the existing 7:30 p.m. restriction limited the centre’s food offer and that later opening could improve the experience for evening shoppers. The proposal drew objections from representatives of Ashford town centre, who argued that later outlet opening could retain visitors at the centre rather than directing them into the town centre. The debate illustrates the outlet’s role not only as a retail property but also as a significant destination within the local economy. Ashford Designer Outlet remains an active McArthurGlen shopping destination whose identity rests on designer-brand retail, destination shopping, architecture, family amenities and landscaped public space.
History
The site’s early planning history can be traced to a July 1991 planning document submitted to Ashford Borough Council under the name Ashford Meadows Leisure Park. The retail centre that eventually emerged was designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership, with Buro Happold responsible for engineering work. Building activity began around 1996, and the scheme was developed as a large destination outlet rather than a conventional urban shopping street. Ashford Designer Outlet opened in March 2000. BBC presenter Charlie Dimmock took part in the opening ceremony, and the centre quickly established itself as a major retail destination in Kent. Its original design was distinguished by a canopy extending more than 300 metres, one of the largest structures of its type in Europe at the time. Within its first year, the outlet received Retail Destination of the Year recognition and other industry awards. The original centre contained approximately 185,000 square feet of retail space. By 2013, McArthurGlen had confirmed plans to expand the property substantially. Ashford Borough Council approved the expansion application in September 2015. Works began in the late 2010s and affected the surrounding area, including a temporary closure of Newtown Road and disruption to the original food court. The project was designed to add approximately 100,000 square feet of retail space at an overall reported cost of around £90 million. A new playground opened in May 2019 during the works. The extension was completed and opened in November 2019, adding new stores and broadening the centre’s tenant offer. Reported additions included Coach, Sandro, Maje and Karl Lagerfeld. The enlarged scheme also incorporated a substantial living-wall installation made from vertically planted vegetation. The installation covered about 25,000 square feet and was promoted as one of Europe’s largest, forming a highly visible part of the centre’s post-expansion identity. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted normal trading. Non-essential stores were closed during lockdown restrictions, and local reporting described the normally busy centre as largely empty for a period. Retail units reopened in April 2021 as restrictions were eased. In February 2021, McArthurGlen management engaged with Ashford Borough Council over planning conditions limiting the operating hours of newer restaurants to 7:30 p.m. Management argued that the restriction weakened the site’s food offer and requested later opening, noting that older outlet units could trade until 9 p.m. The request was contested by nearby town-centre interests, which warned that later restaurant and shopping activity could keep visitors at the outlet rather than encouraging them to visit Ashford town centre. The Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce took a more supportive view, suggesting that a stronger overall visitor offer could benefit Ashford. The episode reflected the centre’s continuing importance to local planning, transport, retail competition and tourism discussions. Ashford Designer Outlet remains an active McArthurGlen destination in Kent, combining outlet retail, restaurants, family amenities and distinctive architectural and planted features.
- 2021
Retail reopening after lockdown
[1]Non-essential stores reopened in April following COVID-19 restrictions.
- 2020
Large living wall added
[1]A major planted wall was incorporated into the centre’s expanded visitor environment.
- 2019
Family playground opens
[1]A new approximately £400,000 playground opened during the redevelopment programme.
- 2019
Extension opens
[1]The expanded centre opened in November with additional retail space and new designer-brand stores.
- 2015
Expansion receives planning approval
[1]Ashford councillors voted in favour of the planning application for the enlargement.
- 2013
Major expansion plans confirmed
[1]McArthurGlen confirmed plans to almost double the centre’s original size.
- 2001
Early retail recognition
[1]The centre received Retail Destination of the Year recognition and other industry accolades within its first year of operation.
- 2000
Centre opens
[1]Ashford Designer Outlet opened to visitors in March, with its long canopy forming a major architectural feature.
- 1996
Construction begins
[1]Work began on the outlet centre designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership with engineering by Buro Happold.
- 1991
Ashford Meadows Leisure Park appears in planning documentation
[1]A planning document submitted to Ashford Borough Council used the name Ashford Meadows Leisure Park for the site.
Products and positioning
A destination designer outlet combining discounted branded retail with food, leisure, family facilities and distinctive architecture in the Kent and wider South East England market.
Fashion retail · 2000
Designer fashion and apparel
The centre’s core offer consists of outlet stores selling designer and lifestyle clothing across womenswear, menswear and related apparel categories. Stock, labels and discounts vary by store and season because the destination is organized around multiple independent brand outlets rather than a single private-label range.
Fashion retail · 2000
Footwear and accessories
Footwear, handbags, luggage, jewellery and other fashion accessories form an important part of the outlet mix. These goods extend the centre’s designer positioning beyond clothing and allow visitors to purchase branded products across different price points and use cases.
Lifestyle retail · 2000
Sportswear and lifestyle goods
Sportswear and broader lifestyle merchandise are included within the centre’s changing tenant mix. The category supports the destination’s appeal to family groups and visitors seeking branded goods beyond formal designer fashion.
Food service · 2000
Food and beverage offer
Restaurants, cafés and other food outlets complement the retail stores and are part of the centre’s destination proposition. Operating hours and the adequacy of the food offer became subjects of local planning discussion in 2021.
Brand decisions
2021
Seek later restaurant opening hoursOtherBackground
Management argued that newer restaurants were required to close at 7:30 p.m., while older outlet units could remain open until 9 p.m., limiting the centre’s evening food offer.
Action taken
McArthurGlen asked Ashford Borough Council to relax the relevant planning restrictions.
Aftermath
The proposal generated debate between the outlet, town-centre representatives and the local business community over visitor retention and competition with Ashford town centre.
- Ashford town-centre businesses — Representatives warned that later outlet trading could encourage visitors to remain at the centre rather than visiting the town centre.
2019
Complete the expanded retail destinationStrategyBackground
The expansion was intended to add approximately 100,000 square feet of retail space and refresh the centre’s visitor facilities.
Action taken
The project introduced new stores, a family playground and a large planted wall as part of the enlarged centre.
Aftermath
The extension opened in November 2019 and expanded the centre’s designer-brand and visitor-services offer.
Reported expansion investment. £90 million project (2019 expansion)
2013
Proceed with a near-doubling of the outletStrategyBackground
The original centre had approximately 185,000 square feet of retail space, and McArthurGlen identified an opportunity to increase capacity and broaden the destination’s tenant offer.
Action taken
McArthurGlen confirmed plans for a major extension, which subsequently went through the local planning process.
Aftermath
Planning approval was obtained in 2015, construction began in the late 2010s, and the completed extension opened in November 2019.
Recent events
- 2021
Non-essential stores reopen after COVID-19 restrictions[1]
Regulation · Other
Non-essential retail units reopened in April after pandemic-related restrictions had substantially reduced visitor activity.
- 2021
McArthurGlen seeks later restaurant opening hours[1]
Regulation · Other
Management asked Ashford Borough Council to relax planning restrictions that required newer restaurants to close at 7:30 p.m.; town-centre representatives raised concerns about competitive effects.
- 2020
Ashford outlet highlights large living wall[1]
Product launch · Campaign
The centre added and promoted a major planted wall installation as part of the expansion and environmental presentation of the site.
- 2019
New playground opens during outlet redevelopment[1]
Product launch · Other
A new playground opened as part of the wider expansion programme, adding capacity for children and families visiting the centre.
- 2019
Expanded Ashford Designer Outlet opens[1]
Product launch
The completed extension opened with additional retail space and new stores, including Coach, Sandro, Maje and Karl Lagerfeld.
- 2017
Construction begins on the Ashford Designer Outlet extension[1]
Other
Construction began on the large-scale extension, causing temporary local transport and food-court disruption during the works.
- 2015
Ashford Borough Council supports outlet expansion[1]
Regulation
Councillors voted in favour of the planning application for the proposed enlargement of the shopping centre.
- 2013
Ashford Designer Outlet confirms plans for major expansion[1]
Other
The outlet confirmed plans to almost double its original scale, initiating the planning and development process for a major extension.
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