What Is Chilmington Green in Ashford, Kent?

A new community near Ashford

Chilmington Green sits on the south-western edge of Ashford in Kent. It is one of the largest planned communities in the South East of England, designed as a long-term project that will keep growing for many years.

The site has been planned around a clear idea: build new homes, but also build the schools, shops, parks and community spaces that turn houses into a real neighbourhood.

Where exactly is Chilmington Green?

Chilmington Green lies between the A28 Chart Road and the village of Great Chart, a short drive from Ashford International station and Junction 9 of the M20. The location matters: it sits close enough to the town centre for shops and services, but far enough out to feel green and semi-rural. For many residents, that balance is the whole point of moving here.

If you are weighing up the area, it helps to picture three things at once: the existing villages and lanes around it, the new streets being built today, and the much larger neighbourhood that will fill in over the next 15 to 20 years. Each of those layers shapes day-to-day life in a different way.

What is planned at Chilmington Green?

The full plan for Chilmington Green includes:

• Up to 5,750 new homes
• Primary and secondary schools
• A district centre with shops
• Healthcare facilities
• Sports and leisure spaces
• Community buildings
• Significant areas of public open space and parkland

What does built in phases mean?

A development this size cannot be built at once. Chilmington Green is delivered in phases. Each phase typically includes new homes, plus some of the roads, footpaths and infrastructure they need. Larger facilities such as the district centre, healthcare and additional schools come as the population grows.

Phased delivery also means timing uncertainty. A planned facility might be promised in an early masterplan but only arrive when enough homes have been built to justify it, when funding is in place, and when the relevant developer or council body actually starts work. That is why we focus on what is genuinely open today as well as what is planned.

Who is building Chilmington Green?

More than one developer is involved across different phases. Hodson Developments has been one of the most visible, but other housebuilders deliver other parcels. Day-to-day stewardship of shared streets, parks and play areas falls to the Chilmington Management Organisation (CMO), a community-focused body created specifically for this development. Planning sits with Ashford Borough Council, with Kent County Council responsible for highways and education.

Is Chilmington Green already occupied?

Yes. Many homes are already built and lived in, and both Chilmington Green Primary School and Chilmington Green School (secondary) are open. At the same time, large parts of the wider plan are still to come.

So if you visit, expect a mix: completed streets that already feel established, brand-new show homes opening up next to active building plots, and large stretches of land that are clearly waiting their turn. Walking around for an hour gives a much more honest impression than any glossy brochure.

Why is Chilmington Green important for Ashford?

Chilmington Green is one of the biggest housing and infrastructure projects affecting Ashford. It will shape local schools, road traffic, healthcare demand and the look of the area for decades. That is why local issues - like the A28 Chart Road scheme, Section 106 obligations and developer changes - really matter.

Decisions made now ripple outwards. A delayed road scheme can mean tougher school runs for years. A renegotiated Section 106 agreement can change which community facilities get built and when. And a developer entering administration can affect the pace of new homes and the funding behind shared infrastructure. None of these are abstract - they reach into everyday life.

Living in Chilmington Green: the honest picture

Residents who like the area tend to mention the same things: modern, energy-efficient homes; safe, walkable streets; usable green space close by; and a real attempt at building a community rather than just an estate. The honest counterweight is that some everyday conveniences - a full supermarket, a GP surgery on site, a finished district centre - are still in the future, not the present.

If you want to see what is happening month by month, the latest update page tracks the issues that are actually moving - including roads, schools, planning and developer news.

What should residents watch?

• Updates from Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council
• News about the A28 Chart Road improvement scheme
• Hodson Developments administration and what it means for delivery
• Section 106 obligations and infrastructure funding
• School admissions and capacity
• Plans for shops, healthcare and community space
• Delivery of parks and green space, including Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Park

Why this website exists

Chilmington Green is changing quickly, and information is spread across many official sources. This site brings the most useful local updates together in one place, in plain English. It is independent and is not run by any council, school, developer or the Chilmington Management Organisation.

If something on this site is unclear, out of date, or you have local information that would help other residents, please get in touch. The best updates almost always come from people who actually live here.