Plans have been approved to transform an industrial estate into a specialist village for people who need support.

Ledian Farm, in Leeds, Maidstone, will become a hub of living accommodation and leisure facilities for people in need of care.

The development, in Upper Street, is a joint venture between the Gallagher Group, which owns the land, and English Villages.

It form parts of a multi-million-pound investment in services for people living in the area who require live-in care, such as dementia patients.

The community, which will create more than 100 jobs, will include a 36-bed nursing home, 27 close care properties and 72 assisted living apartments

The designs also feature a community facility to offer activities, a restaurant, cafe, library and a craft room.

There will be a treatment room to accommodate visiting GPs, and a meeting room for local clubs and societies.

An on-site wellness centre will include a gymnasium, jacuzzi and steam room. The leisure complex will allow both NHS and healthcare practitioners to prescribe and deliver programs of fitness, rehabilitation, assessment clinics and physiotherapy.

The construction of a village shop will no doubt be welcomed by those living outside the secure community, as Leeds has been without a store for at least 10 years.

Keith Cockell, chairman and managing director of English Villages, said: “Many communities are recognising the importance of care villages in supporting this demographic change by providing appropriate specialist accommodation, joined up services and access to on-site health and care facilities.

"There will be more choice of accommodation and support for people than ever before. Many more quality developments will be needed in the coming years.”

Work at Ledian Farm, which is partially derelict, is due to start later this year.

Upper Street has been shut since part of the road collapsed in November and a competition date is not yet known.