Frequently Asked Questions

The developer of Orchard Farm is Orchard Farm Kent Ltd (OFKL). OFKL is a partnership between the specialist Dutch self-build experts, Steenvlinder BV and local architect-led Kent developer, Urbanise Ltd.

OFKL’s aim is to create a self-build community where people will build their own home, with an architect and builder, or by themselves.

Around 115 plots are planned for Orchard Farm.

10% will be affordable rental properties;

20% will be affordable shared ownership housing;

70% will be private housing.

OFKL are preparing a masterplan including the detail for all the public places. We will build the road infrastructure, mains services up to each plot, public area landscaping and all other communal areas and facilities. 

Customers will purchase a serviced plot. The package will include a Plot Passport, which will define conditions on the volume and height of the building and where you can build on the plot as well as the architecture, referring to a site-wide Design Code.

The Plot Passport and Design Code will have already been approved by Ashford Borough Council. This will enable customers, who submit compliant proposals to be quickly granted Full Planning Permission.

After purchasing the serviced plot, the customer will take responsibility for ensuring their house is built, usually by employing an architect and a builder.

We want to make sure to include different size plots and houses. We are currently investigating and defining the development plan and its possibilities. It is envisaged that the smallest house will be a terraced two-bedroom house and that the house sizes will range from 80 to 350 square metres.

The confirmed details of the plot sizes and prices will be provided later in the year when the plots go up for sale.

The plans under consideration include community orchards and drainage systems that improve water quality. In addition, to reduce the community’s carbon footprint there will be no gas and the use of heat pumps, onsite electricity generation and possibly community heating will be actively encouraged. OFKL will welcome other sustainable initiatives will be suggested by the self-builders.

OFLK will also encourage cycling and walking by giving priority to those means of transport and by ensuring we connect to the existing cycling infrastructure around the site. The cycling distance to the centre of Ashford is currently only fifteen minutes from Orchard Farm.

Kent Highways have estimated that there will be 37 extra cars in the peak hour for the new development. Currently there are 1300 cars passing the entrance to Orchard Farm in the peak hour.

We will be creating new community facilities on the site as well as new public spaces and public footpaths and bridleways linking across our development to the adjacent development and beyond to Conningbrook Lakes Country Park. We will be paying for works to Canterbury Road to make it more pedestrian friendly, including reducing the speed limit to 30mph, installing a new pavement on the east side of the road and constructing a signalised pedestrian crossing.

We will also be contributing a total of around £1.4million towards;

• Adult Social Care
• Allotments
• Children’s play space
• Community Learning
• Health Care
• Natural Green Space
• Libraries
• Outdoor sports spaces
• Primary Schools (contribution to land and building of a brand new, two form entry school on the adjacent development)
• Secondary Schools
• Strategic parks
• Youth services

We are planning to offer plots for sale in Phase 1 towards the end of 2022.

If you want to live in a home designed around the way you live, in a neighbourhood where you can participate to make it a safe, lively and vibrant community, then self-build might be for you.

OFKL are making self-build a simple route to designing, building and owning a home that fits the way you want to lead your life.

OFKL’s development partner, Steenvlinder BV, has been delivering plots for self-builders in the Netherlands for over six years and their process is simple, effective and easy to understand.  At Orchard Farm you can build your own ‘Grand Design’ home, or something more straight-forward. You’ll have an OFKL coach to hold your hand throughout the process, helping you to avoid the headaches and successfully build your house.

Large developers build houses to a limited set of standard patterns, with very little scope for customers to alter the design of their house or its environment to more closely fit their needs.

When you choose self-build, you define your budget with your architect and then design and build your house, so that it will meet your needs and will closely fit the way you want to live your life.

Orchard Farm is located in the heart of Kent in Kennington (TN25 4DU), a village approximately 3 miles to the north of Ashford in south east England. The site is just over 2 miles from Ashford International station where high speed trains offer a journey time of 38 minutes to London (with an easy connection to Kings Cross station and important destinations in the rest of UK).

There are also excellent road links from Ashford to London and Europe . It’s just seventeen minutes' drive to Eurotunnel in Folkestone on the M20 motorway and thirty minutes to the Port of Dover on the M20 and A20.

London’s two main airports are within easy reach. By car, Gatwick is an hour away with Heathrow only a further 30 minutes around the M25. 

Bus stops next to Orchard Farm offer services to the centre of Ashford and Canterbury and there are many cycle routes, providing the opportunity to choose a healthier way to travel to work or school or to get out and about to enjoy the surrounding countryside.

Orchard Farm is surrounded by countryside to the north and is only one mile from the North Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one of the most attractive parts of Kent.  Meanwhile just a short cycle ride to the south is the bustling town of Ashford with the bonus of fast links to London from Ashford International station.

This part of Kent has also become renowned for its foodie offer, with several highly regarded restaurants and a host of independent food producers and retailers.

For grocery shopping, it’s a short, fifteen minute walk to the Co-op or a larger Sainsbury’s supermarket is 2 miles away.

County Square Shopping Centre in Ashford town centre has over fifty stores including well known brands whilst across the road at Elwick Place you’ll find Macknade, a café with a deli attached stocked with delicious goodies from Kent & further afield.

The Ashford Designer outlet 3.5 miles from Orchard Farm offers over seventy stores including many well known fashion brands and a variety of restaurants.

Stubbs restaurant is just a few minutes’ walk away from Orchard Farm. Another five minutes along Canterbury Road towards Ashford, the Conningbrook Hotel is open to non-residents for food and drink.

In the other direction along Canterbury Road, The Old Mill pub is six minutes’ walk from Orchard Farm and, on Faversham road, you’ll find Williams and Thomas Tearoom just 15 minutes walk away.

Marino’s Fish Baris also a 15 minute walk from Orchard Farm and Bybrook Barn Harvester is a three minute drive.

Three miles away, Champneys Eastwell Manor Hotel and Spa not only offers afternoon tea, healthy lunches and fine dining but also the Champneys Health Spa.

Near Ashford International station, The Coachworks sells a range of street food and drinks sourced from local suppliers outside in The Yard and The Hothouse is a venue for live music and DJs plus food markets and exhibitions. 

Orchard Farm is close to excellent primary and secondary schools including;

Downs View Infant School
Ball Lane
Kennington TN25 4PJ

Kennington Academy
Upper Vicarage Road
Kennington TN24 9AG

Towers School and Sixth Form Centre
Faversham Road TN24 9AL

Ashford Senior School 
East Hill, Ashford, TN24 8PB

A new primary school will be built on the housing site adjoining Orchard Farm in the next two to three years.

Find our more about all the schools and colleges in Ashford

Cricket
Kennington Cricket Club

Dance
Jasmin Vardimon
In 2022, the company will move into its new creative home in Javelin Way.

Football
Kennington Football Club

Gym
The Gym Group Ashford

Snap Fitness

Hockey
Ashford Hockey Club

Leisure Centres, Swimmimg Pools, Health Clubs and Spas

Bannatyne Health Club and Spa

The Park Club

The Stour Centre

Ashford Museum

Conningbrook Lakes Nature Reserve
0.9 mile/20 minute walk

The Hawking Centre Falconry
2.8 miles/8 minute drive

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve
21 minute drive

Rare Breeds Centre
12 miles/ 20 min drive

Canterbury Cathedral
12 miles/20 minutes drive

Revelation Ashford

Ashford Development Agency

Tourism in the area

Tourism in Canterbury

Tourism in Kent

Experience Ashford