Redhouse Very Sheltered Housing Development
28.05.2008
Since 2005 Brunelcare has been designing its third Very Sheltered Housing Scheme. This has been known internally as ‘Redhouse’ as it is to be located next to Bristol City Council’s (BCC) Adult Community Care Redhouse Offices, until such a time that it is named. The development has used Brunelcare’s ABC Centre in Hengrove and
Brunelcare is working in partnership with BCC and Housing Associations, Hanover Housing Association, Housing 21, Guinness Trust, St Monica Trust, to assist with meeting the needs of older people and sharing good practice.
The scheme, planned for construction in Withywood, South West Bristol, will consist of 66 apartments, one and two beds, with various communal facilities such as a restaurant, laundry, shop, assisted bathrooms and therapy room. Tailored services will deliver maximum health impact reaching 600 people per year. One apartment within the scheme will be equipped with assistive technologies for tenants and local older people to try out, with the aim of establishing which might be appropriate for their own accommodation. These technologies are designed to promote independent living and enable older people to carry out every day tasks as easily as possible.
Much has been achieved since the project’s inception. One of the most significant has been securing Department of Health (DoH) funding of £4.2million through joint application with BCC and subsequently signing a funding agreement.
In terms of designing the scheme, Brunelcare is currently resolving the finer detail. Over the last month, this has involved working with local architect NOMA, contractors and consultants to refine elements of specific rooms. Examples of these include door and window schedules, and deciding on equipment for the main kitchen, laundry and shop.
The coming months will see Brunelcare carrying out further work on the design detail to inform the contract which will be taken to the Trustees for approval in February 2008. It is anticipated that actual build work will start on site in early March 2008 with the building opening sometime around July of 2009.
If you would like to find out more regarding Redhouse, please contact Gayle Morrish, Strategy and Development Officer via email at gmorrish@brunelcare.org or by phone on 0117 914 4230.
