Ashford EDG November 2025 Minutes
Ashford Economic Development Group – November 2025 minutes
Jo Brown (JB)
Nettie Buss (AB) – Chair
Maria Callow (MC)
Lucy Clark (LAC)
Steve Garnett SG)
Katie Hodson (KH)
James McComas (JM)
Luke Mullaney (LM) – Guest
Tudor Price (TP)
Jason Rainbird (JR)
Tim Sheppard (TS)
BUSINESS OF THE MEETING
AB welcomed Luke Mullaney (LM) from GSE. Luke presented the proposal for ‘A20 Court Wood Interchange’ a potential new truck stop in Dover. LM set the context that Ashford International Truck Stop is the largest of its type in Europe, it has 660 spaces. Yet currently it is operating at 100% capacity and turns away from 40 to 100 trucks each night. There is a national shortfall of Truck Stops.
Kent has 60% of outbound HGVs (2m trucks) a year. LM shared that research shows there is a necessity to hold 1,000 more HGV spaces in Kent. The proposal is to have a new lorry park and holding area in Dover. Dover TAP is a visible demonstration of this demand need.
LM proposed that the new Truck Stop would support a solution to offer 600 lorry spaces with secure parking, a build based on the award-winning Ashford Truck Stop offer. The Truck Stop would occupy 25-27 acres of the 77 acres of AONB, Natural England. The remainder 50 acres would be used for drainage and biodiversity initiatives.
LM stated that this would be a world class facility on the doorstep of the world’s busiest roll on roll off port. The challenges are that it would be on an AONB, Natural England; it would have a local visual impact and there could be potential traffic management issues.
The next steps will continue with stakeholder engagement. The application will be submitted in Q1 2026 with the aim to be onsite by the end of 2026 with a 12 month build. The new Truck Stop is anticipated to create 100 jobs and will be part of the solution to alleviate Brock.
2026 AGENDA
AB suggested potential key areas of discussion looking ahead to 2026. Topics include:
- Eurostar
- Inviting Katie Lam MP to attend a meeting
- Ashford College Phase 3
- Nutrient Neutrality
- Town Centre business rates
These are to be agreed early in 2026.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
RS had submitted concerns over public walk way access in the town centre where the new Edinburgh Road car park will be built. KH will contact Keli Nolan-Lyons at ABC to capture any town centre feedback about this. SG will contact Perry Court Farm to see of they might be a potential agricultural contact to join the AEDG.
LAC asked for AEDG to use their networks to encourage business engagement and support with Ashford College. There is a planned business event in February 2026.
