Work due to start on Oakleigh House in Ashford to create 59 high-quality homes for older people and adults with learning disabilities

Construction work will start shortly 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 scheme in Watercress Lane is estimated to cost £17m and is part of Ashford Borough Council’s commitment to preparing for the needs of an ageing population by building and remodelling accommodation for older people to live more independently in homes that are the right size for their needs.
 
The old Oakleigh House was demolished in 2023 and the site was cleared ready for work to start on building a new scheme containing 59 homes, along the lines of the successful Dahlia independent living developments at nearby Farrow Court, East Stour Court, Berry Place and Danemore in Tenterden. 

The independent accommodation 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 and therapy suite, a meeting room, mobility scooter parking, and an office. 

The scheme will be built to HAPPI standards, combating isolation in older people and enabling them to meet, chat and form their own community.

The accommodation 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. Inside, it had become 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 building did not make the best use of the ‘footprint’ of land on which it sat. 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 former star block stood (the other side of Watercress Lane) will be enhanced as part of this development, benefitting the local community.

A scheme like Farrow Court…

Farrow Court is the council’s £17m flagship sheltered housing scheme located close by. Oakleigh House will be affiliated to Farrow Court and will tap into the services that are available there for residents and the community. Oakleigh House will also have a community space for the benefit of local people. The scheme’s architects PRP also designed our scheme at Farrow Court. 

At Farrow Court, the older persons’ accommodation is joined by Cherry Tree Court, which offers accommodation for adults living with learning disabilities.

Cherry Tree Court is a very successful scheme, offering the chance of independent living to many. We will seek to replicate this type of scheme at Oakleigh House.

Cllr Noel Ovenden, Leader of Ashford Borough Council and the portfolio holder 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.

“These schemes place residents at the centre of our design. They are involved in the discussions about remodelling and they are the beating heart of our schemes. We are so 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 scheme addresses local demand for affordable retirement living and supported housing for residents with learning disabilities. The design focuses on creating a sense of place for its residents, placing age-friendly housing in the heart of Ashford. 

The scheme will be non-institutional, creating a domestic character within a building of architectural distinction. A truly sustainable design which targets zero carbon in operation, the integrated landscaping plans reinforce the form and quality of the proposals.