2024 Awards

It is a great pleasure for The Almshouse Association to announce The 2024 Almshouse Association Award winners for 2023 projects and developments.

The Almshouse Association Awards showcase the outstanding achievements of our members in almshouse development and the building of new almshouses. Their hard work, dedication and inspiring innovations not only enrich the lives of almshouse residents, they support the continued longevity of the almshouse movement.

Following visits to our short-listed finalists, The Almshouse Association Awards Panel is excited to announce this year’s deserving winners.

Sloswicke’s Almshouses, Retford, Nottinghamshire

Sloswicke’s Almshouses is one of Retford’s oldest housing charities offering affordable ‘Housing in Town’ for the over 60s. The trustees encourage a positive sense of community amongst the residents, where self-help and independent living is recognised as an important element for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The Charity provides housing and accommodation for retired people of limited means who have a strong Retford connection. Today the Charity has a stock of 41 residential units.

Their award winning project included the development of 5 new almshouses and integration with the grounds to the existing adjacent almshouses. 

In 2017, the Charity purchased a former joiners workshop adjacent to the charity’s nine existing almshouses on Union Street, which were built in 1823. This large unsightly corrugated iron-clad structure had dominated the grounds on their existing site for many years.  They had previously approached the owner to purchase it without success but retained funds so that if it ever came to market the charity would be able to secure it. In 2017 they were able to negotiate a private purchase and appointed a local architect with a historic building specialism. The existing properties, although not listed, had a particular style they wanted to complement.

A formal tender process was used and the Charity appointed a single contractor for the entire project supervised by the architect although trustees attended the regular progress meetings on site.

A key objective was to secure as many units on the site as possible and to integrate them with the existing almshouse properties and grounds to form a site that maximised the community benefits of almshouse living.  With this in mind, the charity decided to landscape both sites and include a mobility scooter store, suitable level access, and a communal seating area. By utilising the existing grounds they were able to intensify the development of the additional site enabling the building of 5 additional dwellings.

The Charity incorporated 2 new accessible bungalows with kitchens and bathrooms that can support any mobility requirements.  Considerable thought was also given to energy requirements, using air-source heat pumps for the bungalows. 

With unplanned symmetry the Corporation Almshouses were built in 1823, refurbished in 1983 and the 5 new Almshouses completed in 2023.

---

Weston Consolidated Charity, Spalding

Weston Consolidated Charity was formed in 1969 by the amalgamation of 18 small local charities with the primary object being the provision of homes for poor persons resident in the Parish of Weston which covers the two villages of Weston and Weston Hills. A secondary object of the Charity is the relief of persons, resident in the area of benefit, who are in need, hardship or distress. This relief is provided by ‘hardship’ grants to applicants.

Their award winning project involved the development of two single-storey, one-bedroomed, bungalows, (with a car parking area and the facility to charge a mobility scooter) built to wheelchair accessibility standards.  Before the new bungalows were built, the Charity had two almshouse bungalows within the village of Weston.

The Charity owned a parcel of land in Weston that was rented out to a local farmer to contribute to the income of the Charity.  When this land was included within the local development boundary, the trustees decided they would seek planning permission to build 2 new almshouse bungalows on a small portion of it.

Outline Planning Permission was granted for a pair of semi-detached almshouse bungalows and also for 2 building plots for sale on the open market. The trustees had originally intended that the sale proceeds from the two open market plots would fund the build costs of the 2 almshouse bungalows, however one of the planning conditions imposed by the District Council was that the almshouses had to be ‘substantially complete’ before the 2 other properties could be occupied.

So, to fund the building of the almshouses, the trustees looked at the possibility of cashing in some of their investments but, fortuitously, they were approached by a trustee of the John and Maureen Biggadike Foundation (a charity set up by a local benefactor) who offered to lend, interest-free, the cost of building the almshouses – the loan to be returned in full when the open market plots are sold.

---

The first mention of Girton Town Charity is in The Victoria County History which can be traced back to a bequest in 1521 by William Collyn. Arrangements for the poor of Girton from these early times were met by the income from land bequested or bought. Assistance was then distributed through the Parish Church.

Girton Town Charity made a commitment to increase and futureproof its almshouse provision by creating 15 new homes at Dovehouse Court in the heart of the village. These would replace six existing bungalows which had been built in the 1930s and 1960s and no longer provided an appropriate standard of accommodation.

The new almshouses, available to residents or those with a close connection to Girton, are built to conform fully to certified Passivhaus standards, with excellent sustainability credentials and situated around a central courtyard.

The contemporary homes are be designed for extended independent living for the over 55s, with an internal layout that includes a master bedroom and a small second room, an open plan living, kitchen and dining area with access to balconies or individual terraces on the ground floor. The central communal landscaped garden incorporate seating, an orchard and allotment beds.

The £5 million construction project (partly funded by a grant of £675,000 from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority) was carried out over a number of years and the almshouses were handed over in 2023. Residents moved in shortly after and immediately started enjoying the benefits of living in these 21^st century homes with skilfully-designed interiors.

• Dovehouse Court is believed to be one of the first almshouse schemes in the UK built to fully-accredited Passivhaus standards, resulting in low energy costs and improved indoor air quality, all made possible by installing energy-efficient windows and doors, with stricter levels of airtightness, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, as well as high levels of building insulation.
• A key element of the design was that all homes should face a central courtyard to provide a view of the garden so that residents could be close to their neighbours and feel integrated in a supportive community. The landscaping included shared gently sloping walkways, and outdoor seating to allow for resident interaction and raised flower or vegetable beds for individual use.
• Accessibility is an important factor with doors wide enough for wheelchair access, low-level kitchen units, non-slip flooring and wet rooms, low-level sockets, lever taps and large windows allowing maximum views of the communal gardens. A lift in one stairwell offers non-stair access when required.
• Automated outdoor lighting was designed to provide a safe environment for residents and there is adjacent parking for cars and mobility scooters, as well as secure cycle storage.
• Underground communal recycling units are a practical and aesthetic alternative to multiple individual bins.
• A Maintenance Supervisor is available to deal with any problems, located on-site at the office which is strategically situated at one end of the development with a separate entrance.

---

United St Saviour’s Charity has been providing almshouses for older people from Southwark since the late 16th Century. They currently provide 130 homes across three sites at  Hopton’s Gardens, St Saviours Court in Purley and Appleby Blue almshouse in Southwark Park Road. Residents live independently within a sheltered housing setting, in homes suitable for single people or couples. The Charity provides a small number of 2 bedroom properties at St Saviour’s Court and Appleby Blue but the majority of the properties are self-contained one bedroom flats. To give all residents’ peace of mind, each property is fitted with an emergency telecare system that links directly to an on-site manager or out-of-hours call-out service for when managers are not on site.

Appleby Blue is an innovative social housing development that reimagines the almshouse concept for contemporary, inner-city living. By marrying heritage with modernity, Appleby Blue offers an affordable housing solution embracing a resident support model to elevate their quality of life and foster a sense of belonging.

Central to its ethos is community and the community centre spaces, exemplified by the vibrant community kitchen at its core, which hosts a myriad of events. In tandem with its 63 residents across its 57 homes, Appleby Blue’s diverse intergenerational community programme encompasses digital skills sessions, dance and exercise classes, and culinary experiences.

Appleby Blue remains committed to crafting a sustainable, forward-looking living environment that harmonises tradition with progress.

Appleby Blue’s award-winning aspects are deeply rooted in its innovative approach to modern almshouse living, significantly enhancing residents’ quality of life. This development, a collaborative effort between a private developer and United St Saviour’s Charity, stands as a beacon of quality, community, and longevity in social housing. The brick facades and architectural detailing ensure that this building will stand the test of time and immediately feels part of this historic part of London.

At the heart of its success is the architectural prowess designed cleverly to integrate communal living with individual independence, using the classic almshouse ‘horseshoe’ design as inspiration. The building’s layout, with its spacious, self-contained homes, communal kitchen, and courtyard garden, promotes social interaction and a sense of belonging among residents.

This design not only provides a roof over the heads of low-income seniors but also enriches their lives by fostering a thriving, supportive community.

Key to the project’s appeal is its location and interaction with the surrounding urban environment. Unlike traditional retirement housing secluded from the bustle of city life, Appleby Blue sits prominently in Bermondsey, inviting engagement with the local community. Its communal areas, designed with large windows and placed next to busy streets, provide residents with a sense of connection to the outside world. This visibility and interaction, rare in socially sheltered housing for older people, upholds the dignity of the residents and maintains their active role in the community.

The development also excels in environmental sustainability and innovative design. Features like solar panels, oak window frames, and wide terracotta-tiled walkways promote both energy efficiency and social interaction. The emphasis on shared spaces over private balconies reflects a profound understanding of the residents’ desire for community and companionship.

Furthermore, Appleby Blue’s approach to community integration extends beyond its physical design. The involvement of residents in communal cooking sessions and the participation of local groups, schools and nurseries in on-site events ensure the project’s role as an integral part of Bermondsey life.

---

The Awards Panel deemed this project deserving of a special award that has not been granted before.

Thomas Sutton’s bequest of 1611, made provision for the care of 80 ‘Poor Brothers’ and the schooling of 40 boys from poor backgrounds. While the school moved away from the site in 1872 and became the independent Charterhouse School, the almshouse has remained on the site. Today residents are still known as Brothers, although they now also include women. Charterhouse is a modern, forward looking organisation while still retaining historic traditions. Eating daily meals together in the historic 16th century Great Hall is a central aspect of community life and staff and visitors regularly join the Brothers for meals.  They also mark historic days such as Founder’s Day, Thomas Sutton Memorial Day and Carthusian Martyr’s Day which are reminders of the heritage of the site and the almshouse.

The project consisted of a ten-week program of drawing masterclasses, guided by an artist/facilitator. These masterclasses culminated in a co-curated three-month exhibition at The Charterhouse, featuring accompanying text interpretation collaboratively developed by the masterclass participants and professional staff from Charterhouse.

Its specific goals included addressing issues of isolation and exclusion. Additionally the project aimed to strengthen connections between the internal older community and external groups by actively involving local community organisations.

The project has fostered closer relationships between The Charterhouse’s internal community of almshouse residents and local external community groups; it has built on and deepened current collaborative partnerships and has encouraged long-term engagement with The Charterhouse from the local community of older people. The outcome has been to reposition The Charterhouse as a welcoming environment that is inclusive and encourages the local community to enjoy its historic spaces.

The Charities strategic plan seeks is to embed The Charterhouse as a community of excellence for the care of older people. This strategic aim does not stop at the boundary walls. There is a genuine mission to serve their local community and engage with it – this project has been an active step in pursuing this organisational objective.

MORE AWARD WINNERS….

• 2023 Award winners
• 2021 Award winners
• 2019 and 2020 Awards
• 2019 Gardens and People Award winners
• 2018 Award winners
• 2017 Patron’s Award winners

Return to Almshouse Association Awards Main Page