Kent councillors have given the green light to a £44m scheme to design, build and run a new 80-bed care home on the southern section of the Innovation Park Kent site. Labour members described the proposal as an ambitious step towards strengthening local care options, while opposition councillors questioned whether the authority could realistically shoulder the financial burden.

The planned facility would include 40 specialist dementia beds and 40 short-stay beds intended to support residents leaving hospital as they transition back to living independently. Deputy council leader Teresa Murray said demand for specialist support had reached a critical point, leaving families in increasingly difficult situations while waiting for placements to become available.

Cllr Murray argued that delaying action would only intensify pressures on the system, insisting the new home would set a “gold standard” for social care and help services work together more efficiently. She emphasised that the council was already struggling to meet the needs of residents with complex dementia and that investment was essential to ensure people received appropriate support.

However, Conservative councillors raised concerns about the projected £37m construction cost and the additional £7m needed to complete wider development on the site. Cllr Gary Hackwell warned that interest on associated loans could reach £2.7m annually, adding that the council’s overall borrowing—estimated at £655m for the year—was already unsustainable. Despite the objections, Cllr Murray has said she hopes work will begin early next year.