Ashford Town Centre business grants scheme launched

Ashford Borough Council is relaunching our business grants scheme for Ashford Town Centre. This initiative provides businesses with the opportunity to bring vacant commercial properties back into active use. 

Following the recent approval of the new Empty Property Grants Scheme by Cabinet in March 2025, a budget of around £90,000 has been allocated to specifically assist with filling empty units in the town centre. 

The scheme is now live and interested businesses will be able to access detailed information and application forms through a dedicated page on the council’s website. Find out about how to apply for the Ashford Town Centre Business Grant to help occupy empty properties in the town.

This initiative builds upon the success of the Ashford Town Centre Support Grants (ATCSG) programme, which operated between October and December 2021. During that period, the council approved 23 grants, including six Empty Property Grants.

These grants proved effective in bringing these previously vacant shops back into operation creating ten new jobs. 

We believe this new scheme could have a similar effect, further reducing the number of empty properties, supporting local businesses and contributing to the prosperity of the town centre.

Vacant shops is a nationwide problem for town centres with an average vacancy rate across the country of 14%.

Ashford Town Centre’s vacancy rate is at 18%, which contributes to local challenges such as reduced footfall, business turnover, and increased levels of anti-social behaviour. By incentivising investment into empty premises, we hope to bring Ashford Town Centre’s vacancy rate below the national average. 

Keli Nolan-Lyons, Town Centre Regeneration Manager, said: “We hope to see an injection of vitality and energy into the town centre by assisting businesses to take up the opportunity to fill vacant properties with the relaunch of the Empty Property Business Grants.

“By giving businesses some financial help to fill those empty commercial spaces, the council are aiming to foster economic growth and create a more visitor friendly and dynamic community for everyone.

"With this proactive approach we aim to build a thriving future for the town centre and positive steps forward to help create a place that everyone will want to spend time and money in.”

A different kind of offer

Town centres, including Ashford, are battling to stay relevant in the face of shifting shopping habits. The move to online and out of town shopping and different work patterns, like hybrid working, are impacting spending patterns across the country, leading to a rethink about the role town centres need to play, which will no longer be retail only centres.

The Town Centre Reset is an initiative which encourages active and healthy lifestyles by introducing informal play opportunities, and enhanced public spaces that make attractive places to meet, sit, and enjoy a coffee or something to eat.

This includes investing in The Ashford Cinema at Elwick Place, transforming Park Mall, expanding the monthly Makers Market, introducing a fun play space for younger children as well as organising a programme of events to draw in visitors to the town throughout the year. 

We also run the Love Ashford website and social media channels, which showcase the latest offers, news and information from our town centre.