Scores of new flats are set to built on either side of Ashford's landmark Panorama building.

Estate agents have already begun marketing the £270,000 two-bedroom apartments as the ideal base for commuters to escape soaring property prices in London, despite the fact that they haven’t even been built yet.

Investin Plc has taken on the planning permission for up to 110 apartments to be built either side of the former Charter House, which is now known as The Panorama building following it’s multi-million pound transformation from office space into flats and apartments.

The properties have been advertised on sites such as Rightmove, with two-bedroom flats listed for sale at £270,000.

According to the property website, prices of flats in the new Vista complex are 28% cheaper than similar flats in London, making it hot property for commuters and young professionals.

But Central Ashford Community Forum chairman Jo Jowers fears that there are not enough town centre homes being built for new residents to start a family.

Mrs Jowers said: “We are all for more residents living in the town centre, but it appears that the predominant way of bringing more residents in is by having more and more one or two bedroom flats.

“That’s great for encouraging younger people into town, but they are going to want to have families at some point.”

Another concern is that some residents living on the lower storeys of The Panorama building could lose out on their views across the town.

Meanwhile Mrs Jowers also fears that while the prices may be cheaper than London, they are above the average for properties here in Ashford.

She added: “I moved to Ashford from London, and I’ve seen the cost of a train season ticket go up by more than £2,000 since 2009. Those moving here might be told it’s cheaper, but there is a substantial price tag too.

“Therefore we get younger commuters setting up home, but we aren’t building homes with gardens for families.

“We are told we don’t understand the new market, but I think it’s a shame we are concentrating on building flats, as we could be creating the problems of London here.”

Work at the Panorama building started in 2013 and were delayed when asbestos was discovered a year later, but the first residents moved in February last year.

Charter House was originally built for the Charter Consolidated mining company back in the early 1970s.