Last updated: July 2026
Short answer
What happened
According to Ashford Borough Council's 7 April 2026 statement and reporting by KentOnline and Construction News, administrators from Grant Thornton were appointed to Hodson Developments (Ashford) Ltd and four associated companies on 24 March 2026.
The move came about two months after a planning inspector dismissed the company's appeal to discharge or modify around £50m of Section 106 obligations, including a £30m contribution to the A28 Chart Road dualling scheme.
Which companies are affected?
The administration covers Hodson Developments (Ashford) Ltd and four associated companies linked to the Chilmington Green site. Both councils and the Chilmington Management Organisation have been clear that other parties on site are not affected, in particular:
- Hodson Developments (CG THREE) Ltd - the housing developer arm continuing to build homes
- BDW (Barratt David Wilson Homes) - building on separate parcels
- Jarvis Homes - building on separate parcels
What have the councils said?
Ashford Borough Council's statement said the council is "aware that administrators have been appointed" and is "working closely with Kent County Council and the administrators" to understand the position and protect the public interest. That includes reviewing outstanding Section 106 obligations tied to the affected companies.
The CMO has issued a similar update confirming that its own operations are independent and continue as normal, and pointing residents to the councils for questions about future infrastructure delivery.
Why this matters for Chilmington Green
Hodson has historically been the master developer for parts of the Chilmington Green site, which means the affected companies held significant Section 106 commitments. When a company in that role enters administration, three things get harder to answer:
- Who delivers the promised infrastructure and when
- How outstanding financial contributions get honoured
- Which developer takes on the land - and its obligations - next
None of that changes homes already built and lived in, but it does affect the pace and confidence of future phases. See our fuller explainer on Hodson Developments administration and why Section 106 sits at the heart of this.
Administration is not 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. That is not the same as liquidation, which winds a company up. The two processes have very different consequences and should not be confused - always check the current status of any specific company on Companies House.
What to watch next
- Administrators' progress reports (usually filed with Companies House)
- Further statements from Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council
- Any sale of land or planning interests to a new developer
- Impact on the A28 Chart Road scheme timeline and funding
- Confirmation of who takes over any outstanding Section 106 obligations
Sources
- Ashford Borough Council - Chilmington Green update (07/04/2026)
- Chilmington Management Organisation - Chilmington Green update
- KentOnline - Hodson enters administration
- Construction News - Developer collapses after losing bid to evade £50m of Kent infra projects
Frequently asked questions
When were the administrators appointed?
Administrators from Grant Thornton were appointed to Hodson Developments (Ashford) Ltd and four associated companies on 24 March 2026. Ashford Borough Council published its update on 7 April 2026.
Does this affect all developers on site?
No. Ashford Borough Council and the CMO have both confirmed the administration does not affect other developers at Chilmington Green, including BDW (Barratt David Wilson) and Jarvis Homes, or the Hodson-linked housing company Hodson Developments (CG THREE) Ltd.
Does this affect people already living in a Hodson home?
New-build warranties such as NHBC are held with a separate provider and continue independently of the builder's status. Snagging and customer-care processes can be more complicated - residents with open issues should follow the process set out in their warranty documents.
What are the councils doing?
Ashford Borough Council says it is working closely with Kent County Council and the administrators to understand the position and to protect the public interest, including the Section 106 obligations tied to the site.