A former dyslexia centre is to be turned into a home for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, it has been announced.

Kent County Council (KCC), which will run the site, confirmed its plans to convert the Braethorpe building in Ashford in a letter to residents today.

The site along A28 Canterbury Road, at the junction with Simone Weil Avenue, recently housed the Ashford Dyslexia Centre before it moved to Park Mall shopping centre.

It will soon have 10 beds providing accommodation to children under the age of 16 before they move to other local authorities under the ‘National Transfer Scheme’.

“We are writing to share KCC’s plans for Braethorpe,” KCC said.

“We would like to apologise for not being able to do so before now but ongoing legal and funding discussions between KCC and central government means there is limited information to be shared at this point.

“Nonetheless, we wish to share with you now what we can, and we will keep you updated as much as we are able.

“In July, the High Court ruled KCC must take ‘every possible step’ to increase its capacity to accommodate and look after all unaccompanied asylum-seeking (UAS) children arriving in the county.

“The legal process is ongoing, as are the funding discussions with central government.

“KCC must comply with the court ruling. As a result, KCC is required to identify accommodation which can be utilised to support UAS children at pace.”

The building is currently undergoing works and the first children are expected to move in by late spring.

KCC says Braethorpe was selected for a number of reasons including the fact it is already set up in a way which meets Ofsted’s regulations to provide a home for children.

“My main aim is to make sure residents are not adversely affected by this...”

During their stay, children will have a temporary home to develop skills to help them acclimatise to the community.

KCC staff will work at the centre which has security on site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Bosses say it will be registered with Ofsted, operate to its regulatory standards, and be subject to regular inspections as a children's home.

KCC says it will be managed in the same way as its two other existing reception centres, one of which is based in a similar residential area to Braethorpe, close to local schools and community services.

Commenting on the announcement, Ashford MP Damian Green (Con) told KentOnline: “I know local residents will be concerned about the possible effects of using Braethorpe as a home for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

“This stems from a court decision which requires KCC to house these children, which puts great pressure on them.

“My main aim is to make sure residents are not adversely affected by this, so I will be keeping in close contact with KCC over the details, and I support the idea of a stakeholder forum to ensure that the residents’ voice is heard.”

Since November 2022, the Home Office has used the nearby Holiday Inn in Canterbury Road as an accommodation site for asylum seekers.

Commenting on the Braethorpe move, a Home Office spokesman said: “The safety and welfare of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children is our utmost priority and providing care placements for them is a national issue that requires participation from local authorities across the UK.

“We are continuing to work with local authorities across the UK, including KCC, to support them to fulfil their statutory duties to accommodate unaccompanied children nationwide.”

KCC has been approached for further comment.