Ashford Designer Outlet Extension Highly Commended at 2020 Global RLI Awards

The Ashford Designer Outlet extension, home to the largest living green wall in Europe, has been “Highly Commended” in the “International Shopping Centre & Outlet Centre Renovation” category at the 2020 Global RLI Awards, which took place on Thursday 3 September.

The Global RLI Awards celebrate the most visionary and innovative retail and leisure concepts from across the world. This year’s event took place online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ashford Designer Outlet extension, designed by Chapman Taylor’s London studio alongside Applied Landscape Design, and delivered by our Bristol studio in conjunction with Main Contractor McLaren, adds 46 retail, leisure and F&B units to the 80 already operating, as well as a new events space and a children’s play area. The canopy roof on the existing building was modified to tie the new area in visually.

A net 324 extra parking spaces have been created to serve the development, while links to Ashford town centre are being improved to facilitate the whole scheme. Our shell & core design and delivery for the extension has achieved BREEAM Very Good certification for sustainability, while there is also a large and attractive public realm element to the scheme, designed by Applied Landscape Design.

Reflecting Kent’s status as “the Garden of England”, the living green wall of tens of thousands of vertically stacked plants which clads the centre is the largest living wall in Europe – greeting affluent long-haul tourists from Europe and beyond as well as day-out shoppers.

The extension project was conceived by our client, McArthurGlen, as an opportunity to revamp the whole retail experience and to create a flagship designer outlet centre for the UK – which we believe has been fully achieved.

Well done to everyone involved in this ambitious scheme for this well-deserved recognition of its high quality.

Nick Thursby (BA (Hons) Dip Arch RIBA)

Director, UK

Nick joined Chapman Taylor’s London studio in 1999 and has over 20 years’ experience spanning all project stages. He has particular expertise in the concept design and masterplanning of schemes through to their detailed design, particularly on large-scale projects at the heart of many of the UK’s major cities.

Nick was jointly responsible for establishing Chapman Taylor’s Bristol studio in 2012 and, as a UK Board Director, he is responsible for the ongoing business development and management of this part of the UK business.

He believes it is crucial to the long-term success of Chapman Taylor to nurture and mentor the creativity and talent in our studios.

Areas of expertise:


Retail / Residential / Mixed-use / Concept Design / Detailed Design / Masterplanning

Nick joined Chapman Taylor’s London studio in 1999 and worked on the award-winning Princesshay, Exeter scheme before joining the UK concept design team.

He was jointly responsible for establishing Chapman Taylor’s Bristol studio in 2013 and as a UK Board Director is now responsible for the ongoing development and management of this part of the UK business. Nick also leads Chapman Taylor’s Sustainability Group responsible for researching best-practice environmental design initiatives and innovation.

He has 20 years’ experience spanning all project stages.

Areas of expertise:

Retail / Residential / Mixed-use / Concept Design / Detailed Design / Sustainability

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