Following the outbreak of war in 1939, the company was restricted to contracting for local authorities; it also established a motor repair business.
Most Ashtons housing were built in close proximity with council housing; Holt Park in Leeds was a joint project between Ashtons and Leeds City Council.
Ainsty in Wetherby is also a large mixed development with many Ashtons and Leeds City Council houses.
Knottingley, Mirfield and Washington also include many Ashtons houses.
This resulted in the Bell v Norman C. Ashton Ltd (1956) P&CR 359 case which came before the Leeds Courts.