International House and the surrounding land will be purchased by Ashford council in preparation for creating the town’s much talked about Commercial Quarter.

The ABC Cabinet has agreed to the purchase of the office block opposite Ashford railway station, along with that of the former Crouch’s garage site, which paves the way for 590,000 sq ft of office space and 150 homes.

The council believes the development, in Tannery Lane, will create 4,000 jobs, bring more money to the town and help offset a reduction in funding from central government.

Cllr Graham Galpin, Ashford Council’s portfolio holder for the town centre and urban economy, said: “This is a big step forward."

He said businesses had already started expressing an interest in renting space in the new development.

Full story in this week's Kentish Express.