Building work is underway on a site in Tonbridge where a new care home is being developed.

Work has commenced on the plot in Tudeley Lane, adjacent to Woodgate residential home, where an £18.3m facility and extra care scheme are to be built.

The Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, local councilors, representatives of contractors, Lawrence Baker, Trustees and the Chairman of the Society visited the site to mark the significant event, before discussing the plans for the new build in Woodgate’s day centre.

At the event, the Mayor, Cllr Sasha Luck said: “The Tonbridge community is very lucky to have this development, which will be hugely beneficial for the older people of the area for many years to come. We’re very grateful to the Society for this wonderful development.”

The society’s chairman, Zach Miles said: “The Society is filling a very important function with this project, which is another step forward in providing state of the art accommodation and high quality care for the community.”

The project will comprise two new builds, a three-storey 101-bedroom care home and an extra care scheme, which will consist of 52 one and two bedroom apartments.

It will boast en-suite bedrooms, as well as several large dining and living areas and improved washroom facilities.

Once the home has been built, current residents at Woodgate will move across into their new home to allow for the extra care scheme to be built.

It will provide people with the independence of living in their own apartment with the added benefit of 24/7 care, companionship and support.

Caring Companions, the Society’s domiciliary team will be onsite to provide tailored care packages to suit individual needs.

Leon Steer, chief executive of The Abbeyfield Kent Society said: “This exciting project has created four years of development work and over 100 new permanent jobs, strengthening the Tonbridge economy and relieving the suffering of many very vulnerable people.”

The first phase of the build is due for completion in 2016.