Ashford’s population is set to be the second-fastest growing in the South East in the years ahead.

The number of people in the town is set to jump by 31% by 2033, the same amount as Milton Keynes, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

From 2001 to 2011, 7,600 jobs were created in Ashford with a further 10,000 planned, along with 13,000 new homes and two million sq ft of new office space.

The findings have been published in a report released by Dukelease, the developers behind the Panorama, the new name for the Charter House tower block in the town centre which is being renovated.

The report reveals that more than £600 million of public and private investment has been committed to Ashford.

The town was the third-fastest growing area in the South East from 1984 to 2009, with a 29% increase in population.

Written by Dukelease’s development director David O’Neil, the report aims to attract retailers to the ground floor of the Panorama.

The building has 17,040 sq ft of space available for retail, leisure or offices, which Dukelease is trying to fill.

So far all of the first six floors of residential apartments have been sold, with just penthouses remaining. They will go on sale in February.

Once completed, the Panorama will be home to 750 people.

Development consultant Jeremy Brown said: “That is going to bring significant activity into the town centre. The more people living on the site, the more the town centre will benefit.

“Panorama will reinvigorate that part of the town. The council are very keen to bring activity into the high street. We see the Panorama as a perfect platform to do that.

“It has huge potential in our opinion for retailers to take advantage of a captive audience which will occupy the Panorama.”

The report also highlights how retailers can benefit from tourism in Ashford.

Day trip visitors to the town increased by 1% to 3.5 million in 2011.

The borough also saw an increase in foreign visitors staying overnight with 371,000 stopping over in 2011, including 84,000 overseas visitors – a 1% increase compared to 2009.

Dukelease originally bought Charter House back in 2008 but delayed its renovation during the recession.

Mr Brown said: “We took the view at the time that the Panorama is going to be part of a very fast-growing economic region, primarily driven by HS1 links to London St Pancras.

“We had faith in Panorama and that is slowly but surely starting to pay off.

“We are not saying we have the answer to every piece in the regeneration jigsaw but what we are doing is breathing life into a landmark building in the town which everyone knows and has an opinion on.”

Ashford – why it’s open for business

• Population set to grow by 31% by 2033.
• High speed rail links to London St Pancras and Europe.
• More than £600 million of public and private investment committed.
• Set to create 10,000 jobs.
• Plans for 13,000 new homes and two million square feet of office space.
• Town centre has 1,500 parking spaces.
• Named a Portas Pilot town by the government, with cash allocated to improve the vitality of the high street.
• Day trip visitors up 1% to 3.5 million a year.