It was once described as the heartbeat of a bustling town centre – but Park Mall is now without a pulse.
Buildings including a multi-storey car park are being torn down as part of a major residential redevelopment at the heart of Ashford in Kent.
The diggers moved onto the site on Friday and demolition is likely to take up to a year to complete.
Drone images show work has already started on the car park, flattening the units underneath it which previously included Poundstretcher, Savers and the Little Teapot cafe.
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Park Mall is owned by Ashford Borough Council (ABC), which has long had plans to build houses on the land.
Bosses said the shopping centre was ‘not financially sustainable’ amid a declining retail sector, the loss of anchor tenants such as Wilko and escalating maintenance costs.
Their decision to flatten the centre has sparked anger among traders, with many backing a petition calling on the council to only demolish part of the site.
But the authority has pushed ahead, though it is yet to appoint a ‘development partner’ to work on the rebuild. Redevelopment is estimated to cost at least £144million.
Simon Betty, the council’s portfolio holder for commercial property and investment said: ‘We have always held long-term ideas to transform the centre away from retail.
‘Despite our best efforts the centre has struggled, especially in recent years.
‘Now seems the right time to redevelop Park Mall so it continues to play an important role in the town centre’s future.
‘Where we can, we will support the current tenants to find suitable premises elsewhere.’
Park Mall opened in 1987 after a number of homes were cleared to make space for the development.
The site was once home to big-name chains including Next, Topshop and Boots but had declined in recent years. The last traders had to leave the centre by January.
Speaking earlier this year, Ashford historian Steve Salter said he believed the extension of the neigbouring County Square shopping centre in 2008 and the opening of Ashford Designer Centre in 2000 were key factors.
‘I think the outlet has been a huge nail in the coffin,’ he said. ‘Building that so close to the town centre should never have happened.
‘When Sainsbury’s was there in the early 1990s it had more footfall. It was a really pleasant environment and nice shopping centre to go to.
‘So it’s a shame, as I have seen worse shopping centres in worse conditions which have been said to have more chance of economic repair.’