Brompton’s factory and global headquarters located in Kent moves a step closer as planning approved

A new £100 million global headquarters and new factory for Brompton Bicycles located in Kent has moved a step closer after councillors approved outline proposals.

Ashford Borough Council’s planning committee voted last night to grant permission for an ambitious and innovative scheme designed by renowned Kent architect Guy Hollaway with the support of Canterbury-based Quinn Estates.

It will now be up to Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to decide whether to call in the outline application for further consideration.

Nick Fenton, CEO Locate in Kent, said: “Last night’s approval by Ashford Borough Council’s planning committee is an important step in bringing one of the world’s best-known brands to Kent with the potential to benefit Ashford and the wider county for generations to come.

“Brompton is a natural fit for Kent, a forward-thinking business in a place that has a proud tradition for manufacturing and innovation. We’re delighted that this was recognised by the company in choosing Ashford over other parts of the UK.

“The company has already shown its commitment to the county, including investing in Kent’s skills offer.  Projects it has completed with local colleges and universities since first announcing its plans in 2022 are a sign of what is to come.

“It is also testament to the strengths of Kent as a business location that Brompton were able to partner with Quinn Estates, the Canterbury based developer behind the film-studio led regeneration of Newtown Works, and Hythe based architect, Guy Hollaway.”

Locate in Kent worked with Ashford Borough Council and Brompton on identifying a suitable site in Ashford, strategically located between the leading cycling cities of London and Paris. The chosen site near the McArthurGlen Ashford Designer Outlet and Ashford International rail station was officially unveiled in February 2022.

The project, hailed as the ‘revolutionary bicycle factory of the future’, would house a world-class production facility and become Brompton’s global headquarters, supporting around 4,000 jobs locally, including the supply chain. It would eventually replace Brompton’s existing factory in Greenford, West London.

Built on stilts, the new facility would overlook a new 60-acre rewilded public nature wetland reserve with a community cycle path and a network of trails, delivering a net gain in biodiversity across the site.  The proposals would deliver a £100 million investment into the local economy.

In the two years since Brompton first announced its plans, the company has supported East Kent College Group and Kent’s universities on projects to develop a highly skilled workforce in Kent for generations to come, the first stage of a lasting legacy for the county.