Last updated: September 2026
Short answer
Confirmed timeline
- 20 January 2026 - A planning inspector dismisses Hodson's appeal to drop around £50m of Section 106 obligations, including a £30m contribution to the A28 Chart Road scheme.
- 18 March 2026 - The administration begins for Hodson Developments (Ashford) Ltd and four associated companies, with administrators from Grant Thornton. The appointment notices were filed at Companies House on 24 March.
- 7 April 2026 - Ashford Borough Council and the CMO publish public updates.
- 25 June 2026 - Hodson Developments (CG Three) Ltd, which had been one of the five companies bringing the Section 106 appeal but was not among the five March administrations, enters a separate administration under RSM owing £31,283,757 to its secured lender. This brings the total number of Hodson companies in administration to six.
- 4 August 2026 - The council publishes conveyancing guidance confirming Section 106 breaches are not homeowners' liability.
- September 2026 - Insolvency documents point to about £211.9m of creditor claims across six administrations.
For the story in full, see our April 2026 update and the September 2026 creditor-claims report.
Why this matters locally
Chilmington Green is a long-term project. Decisions made by developers, councils and lenders today affect the homes, schools, roads and community facilities residents will use for decades. When a major developer enters administration, it is normal for residents to ask what happens next.
Most residents will not personally feel a direct impact in the short term. But the indirect effects - on infrastructure delivery, on the pace of new homes, on the funding for road schemes such as the A28 Chart Road improvement, and on confidence in future phases - are real and worth understanding.
Administration is not the same as liquidation
Administration is a formal insolvency process where licensed administrators take control of a company to try to protect value for creditors and, where possible, keep parts of the business going. Liquidation is a different process where a company is wound up and its assets are sold off.
Hodson Developments (Ashford) Limited is listed as in administration. A separate company, Hodson Developments Limited, is listed as in liquidation. They are not the same legal entity. We have not seen confirmation that the Chilmington-linked company is in liquidation, so we do not state that here.
This distinction matters because the two processes have different consequences. Administration leaves more options open - including possible sales, restructures or rescues - whereas liquidation effectively ends the company. Anyone making decisions based on the news (for example, buyers or suppliers) should always check the current status of the specific entity on Companies House.
What have the councils said?
Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council have a strong interest in what happens next, because both authorities rely on the developer to meet planning obligations including Section 106 commitments. Council statements have focused on assessing the situation and protecting public interest.
Practically, that means councils are reviewing how outstanding obligations could be enforced, transferred or renegotiated, and what powers they have if the responsible company can no longer deliver. We will keep this page updated as official statements are published.
What are residents worried about?
- Whether infrastructure will still be delivered on time
- Whether the A28 Chart Road scheme will progress
- Whether shops, healthcare and community spaces will follow
- Whether estate management arrangements stay stable
- Whether new homes will continue to be built at the planned pace
- Whether existing snags, warranties and customer-care promises will still be honoured
- Whether confidence in the area will affect resale prices in the short term
Does this affect all developers at Chilmington Green?
No. Chilmington Green involves more than one developer building different phases. Existing residents, schools and the Chilmington Management Organisation continue to operate. Administration mainly affects work directly tied to the company in administration.
If you are unsure which developer was responsible for your home, your conveyancing paperwork will name the company you bought from. That is the right starting point for any questions about warranties, customer care or outstanding works.
What about people who already live in a Hodson home?
Existing homes do not disappear because a developer enters administration. New-build warranties such as NHBC are typically arranged with a separate warranty provider, so they continue independently of the builder’s status. Snagging and customer-care arrangements can be more complicated, and residents with active issues should follow the process set out in their warranty documents and seek independent advice if needed. The buying a home page has more detail on what to check.
Why Section 106 is linked to this issue
Section 106 obligations sit alongside planning permissions. If a developer with major Section 106 commitments runs into financial trouble, councils have to consider how those commitments will be honoured. That is why the Hodson administration and Section 106 are often discussed together.
What happens to the land if a developer cannot deliver?
Land owned by a company in administration becomes part of what the administrators manage. In practice, that often means it is marketed for sale to other developers, who would then take on the relevant planning permissions and obligations. The shape of future development at Chilmington Green therefore depends as much on who buys these interests as on what was originally promised.
What happens next?
Administrators usually publish updates as their work progresses. Councils may also share updates as decisions are made about future phases and infrastructure funding. We will keep this page updated as new public information appears.
For the most up-to-date local picture across roads, schools, planning and developer news, see our latest update.
Official links
- Hodson Developments
- Hodson Developments - Chilmington
- Companies House (search company status)
- Ashford Borough Council
- Kent County Council
Frequently asked questions
Is Hodson Developments in administration or liquidation?
Hodson Developments (Ashford) Limited - the company most associated with parts of Chilmington Green - is listed as in administration. A separate company, Hodson Developments Limited, is listed as in liquidation. The two are different legal entities.
Does administration mean Chilmington Green has stopped?
No. Administration affects one company. Other developers are also building at Chilmington Green, and existing homes, schools and community facilities continue to operate.
Why does this matter to residents?
Administration can affect planning obligations, infrastructure funding and the timing of future homes and facilities. Councils are reviewing the impact.