Work starts to create 59 high-quality homes for older people and adults with learning disabilities at Oakleigh House

Work has started on creating 59 high-quality homes for older people and adults with learning disabilities on the site of a former sheltered housing scheme in South Ashford.

The development is an early sign of Ashford Borough Council’s newly-announced commitment to build 1,000 new homes over the next five to seven years. ABC is working with Folkestone-based main contractor Jenner on the £18m scheme.

It is also part of the Council’s drive to prepare for the needs of an ageing population by building and remodelling housing for older people to live more independently in homes that are the right size for their needs.

The old Oakleigh House in Watercress Lane was demolished in 2023 and the site was cleared ready for work to start on building a new scheme, along the lines of the successful Dahlia independent living developments at nearby Farrow Court and Danemore in Tenterden.

The independent living scheme for older people at Oakleigh House will comprise 54 flats with a communal lounge area, a covered terrace with views into the courtyard, a hair salon, a meeting room, mobility scooter parking, and an office. It will be built to HAPPI standards, combating isolation in older people and enabling them to meet and form their own community.

The housing for adults with learning disabilities consists of five apartments. The developments will be arranged around two open courtyards with the main entrances located near to the junction of Watercress Lane, Cross Stile and on Beaver Lane.

The background

The old Oakleigh House was built in the 1970s and comprised 32 flats and had become a tired old building, dated and hard to maintain.

The building was a maze of narrow, dark corridors on different levels, which is not ideal for those with mobility impairments. 

The land is now being better used to deliver a bigger scheme that will be a real asset to the area. To make the best use of the land we are including the ‘star block’ of now empty ‘general needs’ flats next to Oakleigh House (so called because they used to resemble a star shape when viewed from above).

The land opposite the former star block

The smaller patch of land opposite where the site of the former star block stood (the other side of Watercress Lane) will be enhanced as part of this development, benefitting the local community.

Cllr Noel Ovenden, Leader of Ashford Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “Our approach to modernising our sheltered housing stock is delivering wonderful results for the borough’s older residents and I’m excited to see that Oakleigh House is set to follow the same template as Farrow Court, Danemore and others.

“We are proud of the quality of our new homes, from each redevelopment we learn new things that can then be put into practice in the next project.”

The Council say the scheme addresses local demand for affordable retirement living and supported housing for residents with learning disabilities. It will be non-institutional, creating a domestic character within a building of architectural distinction, while its sustainable design which means Oakleigh House will aim to achieve zero carbon in operation.

Martin Sandall, Managing Director of Jenner who are constructing the new homes, said: “Jenner is delighted to be working with Ashford again following the recent successful completion of Mill View. Oakleigh House will bring forward much-needed affordable and sustainable new homes that will hugely benefit local people with learning disabilities allowing them to live independently, and we are delighted to be appointed to deliver this special project and get construction underway.”