One of the last remaining businesses in a closure-hit shopping centre extension says turning the site into 200 homes could be a good opportunity.

Chill Time Milkshake Bar in Ashford’s County Square, which sits between Next and the former Debenhams store, is one of a handful of tenants left in the £60 million extension which was built in 2008.

In March, KentOnline revealed how the owners of the shopping centre have put the site forward in a planning process led by Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to identify suitable building plots.

They admitted the closure-hit development is “failing” and could be put to better use as up to 200 homes.

While some shoppers have not welcomed the news, Chill Time’s owner Mariam Ali, who also has a store in Margate, says it could be a good thing to help the town grow.

“While it’s disappointing to see some well-known brands leaving our community, this transition towards more housing can be seen as an opportunity,” she said.

“I understand the entire community is no longer really able to have an enjoyable shopping experience but this may be short term.

“Not everyone has the means to travel to Folkestone or Canterbury for shopping, and online shopping doesn’t quite capture the same experience.

“However, the introduction of more housing can contribute to community growth and potentially bring in new businesses or services that cater to the needs of residents.

“It’s important for our community to adapt and evolve to meet changing demographics and preferences.”

Ms Ali says she is “proud” of her family-run business and is “currently exploring opportunities to relocate within the centre”.

“Our aim is to continue offering valuable employment opportunities for our local youth, fostering a sense of responsibility and motivation among them,” she added.

“Thanks to the ongoing support of our community Chill Time has not only weathered the challenges but has also continued to thrive.

“And thanks to our dedicated security team at County Square for their commitment to maintaining safety and order within our centre.

“While there are clear advantages and disadvantages to changing to housing, I hope it ultimately leads to a balanced and thriving community for everyone.

“There is potential for our community to thrive by embracing new opportunities and ensuring that the needs of residents are met.”

All of the extension has been put forward for housing, including the Next and New Look units which currently remain open, and the former Debenhams which goes across three storeys.

It is unclear exactly what the scheme will involve, but Q+A Planning Ltd, which put together the plan on behalf of the site’s owners, says it is “being promoted for a mixed-use development” that would take three years to complete.

The upper floors are expected to be turned into housing, while the bottom floor – which includes a number of units that have never been occupied – would still be a retail space.

In its submission to ABC, Q+A Planning Ltd admits the extension is a “failing element” and says the site would be available for development “within zero to five years”.

If the scheme goes ahead, Next, New Look, A. Simmonds jewellers, Burger King and Chill Time would all need to move to different units.

For A. Simmonds, it would mean the business will have to move to a new unit within the centre for a second time.

The shop was previously in the original part of the centre, but switched to the former Jane Norman unit in the extension in 2018.

Owner Peter Fry previously told KentOnline the shop will not be closing and he will find a new home for the business when the time comes.

New Look and Next have both confirmed they have no plans to leave Ashford.

Women’s clothing store Select was the latest store to leave the extension after the brand announced its departure from Ashford in February.

In the original part of the centre, Peacocks closed for good in March.

Last autumn, ABC invited people to put forward sites they own, or to suggest land that may potentially be available, for inclusion in the new Local Plan during a “call for sites” process.

More than 300 plots were submitted and planning officers are now assessing each one, including County Square, to look at their “suitability, availability and achievability” before any decisions are made.

Once all sites have been assessed, the authority’s preferred options will be published for public consultation.

In a statement issued in March, ABC said the list of submitted sites is published for “information purposes only”.

“No decision has been taken as to which sites will form part of a future strategy for the borough,” said the authority, which is now run by an Ashford Independent/Green Party coalition.

“Being put forward for consideration for development does not mean a site will be allocated in the Local Plan, nor does it determine whether planning permission should be granted on any subsequent planning application that may be submitted.”

County Square has been approached for comment.