Barking and Dagenham Council's Cabinet has approved a significant £3.25 million investment to expand dementia care facilities by redeveloping Fews Lodge. The project will create 23 new dementia-specialist ensuite bedrooms, which will be integrated with the existing Kallar Lodge.
The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, aims to address a critical shortage of dementia care capacity within the borough. Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing, highlighted the escalating costs of external care placements, which range from £1,103 to £1,642 per week, compared to Kallar Lodge's tariff of £1,040–£1,063 per week. The expansion is expected to reduce the council's reliance on these costly external placements.
This expansion is anticipated to deliver 23 modern, dementia friendly ensuite rooms, communal spaces, and improved layouts that support safety, independence, and wellbeing.
Furthermore, it will increase in borough availability, enabling residents to remain closer to family networks and reducing the number of out of borough placements.
The project aligns with the council's invest-to-save strategy and is projected to generate £1.554 million in annual income, with an annual operating surplus of £299,463.
The redevelopment will transform Fews Lodge, currently used for supported accommodation, into a dementia-friendly environment. Fews Lodge does not meet modern safety standards, requiring a 24-hour waking watch. All existing tenants will be rehoused by LBBD Housing into locations that offer better access to community facilities. Councillor Worby noted that the current use of Fews Lodge has been probably inappropriate for a while
and that rehoming residents into the heart of the borough
will be beneficial.
The project will also ensure compliance with modern regulatory and fire safety standards. Councillor Worby stated, I've waited a long time to bring this report to Cabinet, and I'm really proud that we're at last going to be able to make some progress.
She added that specialist dementia beds outside the borough can cost between £1,000 and £1,600 per week and are becoming increasingly scarce.
More information on the project and related reports can be found in the Public reports pack for the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 Public reports pack Tuesday 24-Mar-2026 19.00 Cabinet.pdf.
