Farrow Court aims to revolutionise the way that provision for older people is delivered.

The new dementia-friendly accommodation will offer 100 high-quality living units, including learning disability units and recuperative care units for people released from hospital who need respite before they return to their home. There will also be a new day-care centre, communal facilities, a hairdressers and a restaurant that can be used by the local community, not just residents. It will also be built to Ashford Borough Council's lifetime living standards.

A small ceremony took place today to mark the official start of work on site. Damian Green MP, Ashford Borough Council's Deputy Leader Councillor Michael Claughton, portfolio holder for housing Councillor Aline Hicks, Graham Brown, Chairman of Denne, and a whole host of Farrow Court residents were there to celebrate the beginning of the construction phase.


Ashford Borough Council has been successful in securing grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and £3.6m from the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund at the Department of Health to fund the remodelling work.

Local tradesmen and businesses have already attended an event to see how they can get involved with the project work and the council has also agreed that construction company Denne, a Bouygues UK company, who so successfully transformed the look and fortunes on Stanhope, will set up its nationally commended skills centre. Through construction, it will offer opportunities for local people to be involved in the project through site visits, work experience placements, apprenticeships, back to work schemes and on-going school engagement.

The way in which the council is working in partnership with local companies and providers like Denne, who have a proven track record of delivery in the borough already, epitomises the way that work will be procured on this project. The council is extremely confident that this approach will lead to successful outcomes.

By 2026 it is anticipated that 40% of Ashford's population will be aged over 50, so it is vital that the future needs of the borough are addressed.

(CD/JP)