A CASH boost of £200,000 has help secure a project to build the country's first purpose-built home for adults with early-onset dementia.

Proposed by Young Dementia UK Homes, the £2.65m scheme will provide 12 apartments – including some for couples – and cater for a community of about 20 people in Charlbury.

Many people with the early-onset condition have to move to a home populated by people 20 to 30 years older than them, but the new home will mean they can instead live with people of a similar age.

And on Thursday grant funding required was approved by West Oxfordshire District Council's cabinet, paving the way for work to start later this year.

Jane Norton, of Young Dementia UK Homes said: "The charity is now hoping to finalise planning approval and we hope that will happen through discussions in the coming weeks.

The home has also been given £350,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency, as well as £300,000 from Oxfordshire County Council.

There was controversy over its location on land south of Forest Road – in an area of outstanding natural beauty – with some groups, such as the Friends of Evenlode, raising concerns it would become "a satellite housing estate" and should be located elsewhere.

But district council cabinet member for planning Warwick Robinson said he was pleased it was approved by a committee of councillors.

He added: "We feel it is one of those cases where we can and should support it, because it will provide a unique facility that is clearly needed.

"We are very pleased indeed with the project, the people behind it are obviously very committed and have put in a huge amount of effort to bring it forward."

District councillor for Charlbury Liz Leffman, also a trustee of the charity, said the new home would provide a place for people in their 50s and 60s to be among their peers.

She added: "I am a big supporter of this because there is an increasing need for accommodation for people who get early-onset dementia but, if you can't afford specialist care, many can end up going to a home that is really for older people.

"This new home will allow them to have more of a social life and the fact it is being built in Charlbury is brilliant, because it can become part of the community.

"I think the majority of people are very happy it is being built here."

Rodney Rose, Charlbury county councillor, added: "I'm very pleased it is going ahead and particularly so that it will be in Charlbury."

In addition to the home, 25 'low energy' homes for sale, shared ownership and rent will also be built on the site, to help pay for the facility.

The site, which is next to Charlbury Station, previously housed the old pill factory and gasworks.