Drone pictures have revealed the progress made on new homes and nursing accommodation being built alongside Demelza.

Longfield-based housebuilder, Esquire Developments, secured the go-ahead for the site in Bobbing, off Keycol Hill, in December 2021.

Almost two years on and aerial photos have shown the 30 houses beginning to take shape.

As well as the homes – a mix of two to five-bedroom properties which are up for sale on Zoopla from £405,000 – the scheme includes improvements to the junction between Keycol Hill and Rook Lane.

Plans include a parking area for up to 80 vehicles and an outdoor event space for the Sittingbourne children’s charity – which provides specialist care and emotional support for children with serious or life-limiting conditions as well as their loved ones.

Esquire Developments is also building a single-storey nurse's facility which will be handed over to the charity upon its completion.

Lavinia Jarrett, chief executive at Demelza, said: “We are very much looking forward to being able to use the space at Hill Farm once our building is completed in the Autumn. This year, we are celebrating 25 years of delivering extraordinary care to extraordinary children facing serious or life-limiting conditions in the South East and our services have adapted to meet the changing needs of local families throughout the years.

“The building will allow us the flexibility to offer nurses’ accommodation, provide specially adapted space for young people to socialise with their peers and to learn valuable life skills before leaving children’s services, as well as providing a space for families should their children need longer-term care in the hospice.”

Alex Mattingly, head of sales and marketing at Esquire Developments, confirmed the build is going well.

She said: "Our Hill Farm development has an established site presence for prospective purchasers with the showhome, sales suite and choices suite being open – these have all been well received and has resulted in high interest in the site, with currently over 50% reserved off plan.

“The construction team are pleased with the progress of the development so far, with some of our clients moving into their new homes before Christmas.

"Another exciting element of this development is our construction of a nurse’s accommodation facility for Demelza which sits adjacent to the site.

“This high specification, modern facility supports the ever-growing needs of this fantastic charity that we are so proud to be a supporter of."