The Almshouse Association was so pleased to be able to present awards to four charities for projects completed in 2021.
THE ALMSHOUSE ASSOCIATION INSPIRATIONAL HOMES AWARD 2021 Peter Birtwistle House is a new build property of twelve supported one and two-bedroom flats. Local shops and amenities are close by and easily accessible enabling residents to continue to live independently in their local community. The almshouses are part of a mixed-use retail and residential development built on the site of a former Health Centre.
In early 2019, the trustees were approached by Pendle Borough Council to consider the purchase of a long lease on a town centre redevelopment to be built by Pendle Enterprise and Regeneration Limited (PEARL). PEARL is a joint venture company formed of the Pendle Council and Barnfield Investments Limited. Barnfield, the building contractor for the project, is a large North West based property developer with a proven record in delivering social housing projects.
The Trustees were attracted by the proposition of a town centre location, allowing residents independent access to local shops and amenities. A large proportion of the housing stock in Colne is located on steep hills and comprises traditional two-up, two-down properties, making suitability for the elderly increasingly challenging. The location of the redevelopment coupled with the opportunity to design accommodation specifically to meet the requirements of older people, supporting increasing needs as time progressed, prompted the Trustees to begin discussions with PEARL.
Before and during the development
The majority of the almshouses owned by the Trust are one-bedroom bungalows located on sites with landscaped gardens. As this was the first time the Trust would be providing purpose-built flats, market research was undertaken by staff to ascertain the suitability of the project for potential residents. Existing residents and people on the Trust’s extensive waiting list were canvassed for their opinion on town centre living. In addition, the Trust Surveyor made a scale model of the new property which was exhibited in Colne town centre to publicise the Trust’s new almshouse site. During this time, the Trust was also working with the Almshouse Consortium and Saffer Cooper to investigate funding streams for the scheme.
Although the first few months of the build coincided with the initial wave of Covid 19, Barnfield Construction was able to proceed with the project, completing the groundwork and constructing the steel structure of the building during the Spring and early Summer of 2020.
Peter Birtwistle House was completed in August 2021 and all 12 flats were let by the first week in September. The building includes two properties that have been designed for wheelchair users. These include a wet room, and kitchen with lowered hob, sink and worktops. Two spacious bedrooms provide accommodation for residents, their partners and carers. Given the open-plan living area of the properties, a dedicated utility cupboard is located in each flat. This is plumbed for a washing machine and has space for a tumble dryer or drying rack. The bathrooms are fitted with shower cubicles around a wet room-type floor, providing a level access shower area. Lever taps are fitted on the bathroom basins and shower controls. The kitchen areas include eve level ovens and grills together with a ceramic hob. Kitchens, bathrooms and utility areas are all fitted with nonslip vinyl flooring.
and after..
To embrace the reduced impact of low carbon heating systems, the property is heated by electric radiators and hot water to each flat is provided by an unvented hot water storage cylinder. Twenty photovoltaic panels on the roof of the building generate electricity which is used to offset the cost of power needed to run the lift and to light and heat the communal areas. This saving is passed on to residents in the form of a lower service charge.
A dedicated secure area on the ground floor is available for storing and charging mobility scooters, electric bicycles and powered wheelchairs. The private parking area to the rear of the site provides level access to the building and an electric vehicle charging point is available for use by residents. Safety of residents is enhanced by internal and external CCTV and a video/audio door entry system at the main entrance.
The development includes a pedestrianised courtyard that leads from the main shopping street to the front entrance of the building. Since the flats are located on the first and second floors of the building, outside space is at a premium. Five of the 12 flats have direct access to their own terrace areas, and a large communal terrace with views overlooking the town and surrounding countryside serves the remainder of the properties.
THE ALMSHOUSE ASSOCIATION INSPIRATIONAL HOMES AWARD 2021 Vital almshouse facilities have been added to the Hinckley Road site in the form of a new three-storey extension and additional buildings to provide a community ‘hub’ that includes offices, a conference room, kitchen, and dining facilities on the ground floor.
Eight self-contained one and two-bedroom flats on the first and second floors have also been provided, together with the erection of six single-storey dwellings, the provision of additional parking and a new bin store.
The Wyggestons site is spacious with mature trees and extensive lawned areas surrounding the accommodation which is located within the heart of the residential area of Westcotes, Leicester and provides residential accommodation as sheltered housing or care facilities within its own community.
The thought and design process behind the project was to improve current facilities for residents and staff, bringing them in line with modern day requirements whilst providing more housing to expand the amount of older people Wyggestons can assist. Previously, Wyggestons was able to accommodate a maximum of 89 residents, and this has now increased to 117.
The focus of the design was to create buildings and spaces that work well for everyone – that are attractive and adapt to the needs of future generations through sustainable development. The site previously offered a relatively low-density level of existing development that formed a linear building through the middle of the site, north to south, together with a parallel building along the western boundary. The new building relationship with the existing residential accommodation was paramount, as was the positioning of the new buildings to benefit from the predominant sun path to ensure the accommodation is light and airy.
Hub café and patio
Wyggestons Cottages
Lancaster House
The location of the Lancaster House and cottages was a natural progression for the development on the existing site. Due to the central location of the building and the single storey nature of the cottages, the opportunities for potential overlooking into adjoining property is almost non-existent and will have a minimal effect on the current residents and the neighbouring buildings.
HUB café
The new HUB design seeks to unify the variety of administrative requirements located on site into a single point of reference, providing a more definitive location for these important functions, as these are essential for servicing the new and existing residential needs.
The amount of additional accommodation that has been created does not over develop the site. It is a natural progression and in turn addresses needs by improving and enhancing the opportunities to live within a central location whilst providing a light, landscaped oasis within the densely built-up suburb of Westcotes. The location benefits from a number of local amenities and excellent transport links to the city.
The sizable project was started in October 2019 and was completed in December 2021.
THE ALMSHOUSE ASSOCIATION INSPIRATIONAL HOMES AWARD 2021
A single new-build two-bedroom bungalow sits comfortably within its setting in a quiet lane in Hallaton.
The site falls within the Hallaton Conservation Area as well as sited directly adjacent to an existing Grade II listed dwelling. Hence, this new build required a conscientious and sensitive approach to the design, ensuring that there were no adverse impacts on the heritage of the adjacent properties and the wider village.
HIST currently has 17 almshouses which are unfurnished dwellings. The aim of the almshouses is to provide villagers with affordable accommodation enabling them to stay in Hallaton when the high cost of housing in the village may otherwise prevent them from doing so. Generations of young and older people from the village have benefitted from this. Demand is usually strong whenever an almshouse becomes vacant from all age groups. In addition to the almshouses, HIST also owns and manages the village hall (the Stenning Hall), the Recreation Ground, the allotments, the Parish Store, and other parcels of land.
The proposals for a new-build almshouse in this locality required a conscientious and sensitive approach to the design, ensuring that there were no adverse impacts on the heritage of the adjacent properties and the wider village.
Hallaton and Isabella Stenning trustees, staff and friends welcome a young family to their new home
Following consultation with the Local Authority Planning and Conservation Officers, the scheme was specifically designed to ensure that it responded sensitively to the heights of the historic dwellings surrounding the site as well as ensuring that its roofline did not adversely impact on longer-distance views of the church spire from along Hunts Lane.
A study of the existing dwellings in Hallaton was carried out and some of the more common features were used to inform the design. Specifically, these architectural details include: gable roofs, double snap brick header arches to windows; window fenestration styles; projecting sills; and traditionally styled metal rainwater goods. The composition of the almshouse has been designed to retain and incorporate the existing hedgerow to the front, enabling the site’s maturity to be maintained and allow for the new dwelling to be immediately integrated into the surrounding landscape and appear as a complementary addition to the local building context.
All building materials and systems have been selected due to their overall quality, longevity and durability. The careful attention to detail in the specification of the material palette should result in these lasting for the lifetime of the building with minimal maintenance. Value for money was an important consideration, and a value engineering exercise was undertaken prior to works commencing in order to omit some of the supplementary elements, whilst retaining the key features and characteristics of the dwelling. The red brick used as the main facing material on the project was selected as a result of a wide study of the existing dwellings in Hallaton and the product’s aged/rustic aesthetic, which was felt to be in keeping with the traditional materials used locally. The red brick is supplemented with blue brick banding and projecting sill details. A natural slate roof, traditional mortared verge, and metal rainwater goods are all in keeping with many of the other dwellings evident in the village. The entrance canopy forms part of the main roof, with the front door recessed below, offering shelter at the entrance to the dwelling. Wide window openings, plus large French doors with sidelights, have been used throughout. Coupled with a generous ceiling height (in comparison to other similar new-build dwellings), this results in an airy and spacious feel in all rooms in the dwelling.
Accessibility was a key requirement at the design stage; therefore, a single-storey format, level threshold entrance, and an accessible shower room were incorporated, making the dwelling truly adaptable and suitable for accommodating a wide range of people for their lifetime.
The construction of HIST’s almshouse was a long -awaited opportunity for the charity to provide centrally located accommodation that would meet the future needs of its aging residents, those with mobility requirements, and families. Until its construction, all of HIST’s dwellings were older properties with stairs, most with upstairs bathrooms. Some cottages are listed, restricting possible improvements or adaptations.
In August 2021, the cottage was finally ready for occupation. As an almshouse charitable trust, HIST is delighted to be able to fulfil the legacies of past donors and offer affordable accessible accommodation to those in need in Hallaton and the surrounding area, regardless of age.
THE ALMSHOUSE ASSOCIATION GARDENS AND PEOPLE AWARD 2021 This award-winning garden design ensures something for everyone who lives at Penrose.
For those who love growing their own vegetables, herbs, and flowers they have five large allotment plots and a communal allotment area with six smaller raised beds, a tool shed, allotment shed. Also, under the stewardship of their green-fingered caretaker, they have two communal vegetable borders and a strawberry bed.
For those who prefer to relax in the garden, they have one large communal lawn, a shaded area and also a quiet garden. It is not only the residents that are buzzing about the new planting scheme, the fragrant, colourful adorned trellis and additional trees provide a home for plenty of birds and wildlife. There was even a pair of mallards taking advantage of the caretaker’s pond.
Penrose is a magnificent 20-dwelling almshouse complex in the centre of Barnstaple built in 1624 around a cobbled courtyard. It has been important to trustees and residents that the new gardens are in keeping with the Grade I listed buildings – they have achieved this objective and then some!
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