Health & Care

Care home Blog, a personal account by Tom Hubbard

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I started working with gcp in August 2019. One of the first projects that hit my desk was St Phillips and St James care home. We have a history of working for this care home and in 2013 we worked with them to create an extension to adjoin two existing buildings creating additional bedroom space, circulation space and lift to make the building work better for the residents.

As the care home is set across three existing terraced houses there are some odd level differences leading to staff having to go up and down sets of stairs to access different areas of the building on the same floors. To address this issue, we worked closely with the care home to design out the need to use these stairs by combining two bedrooms into one bedroom and incorporating a new by-pass access corridor.

Within the new bedroom we have worked closely with the care home to ensure the specification of the shower room and WC are designed with the elderly residents and care staff in mind. This includes grab rails to WC, shower controls outside of the shower cubicle, level access into the shower etc.

During the construction stage of this project the dreaded COVID-19 hit, and works were temporarily halted. Fortunately, we were able to create a solution to reduce the need for SW Wren building services to access the project through the care home. All access to the area was through the external scaffold tower and the existing bedroom doors were maintained and sealed effectively isolating the new bedroom and corridor from the rest of the care home. This allowed the majority of works to be carried out in isolation. Close contact and communication with the care home was maintained when larger items were required to be brought through the building.

Despite the challenges COVID-19 presented us and difficulties in obtaining materials the project was successfully completed in late 2020 and the client was very satisfied with the end result.

We are proud of the outcome and look forward to working with the care home in the future to help improve the experience of the elderly residents, enjoying a functional and comfortable building. 

More success! Planning consent received for Priory Court.

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Elim Housing Association provides housing for young homeless parents at Priory Court in Knowle, Bristol. The site is integral in supporting Young Parents in their journey towards more independent living in the future. Priory Court currently provides fifteen units of accommodation for young homeless parents. and ten self-contained rooms. Accommodation at Priory Court is provided in two buildings.

A converted Victorian villa (block A) is at the front of the site containing five rooms and shared facilities. To the rear of the site is a three-storey annex (block B) constructed in the 1990’s containing 10 self-contained rooms.  

The proposals aim to add an additional three rooms to Block A and provide the existing rooms in Block A with an en-suite bathroom. To facilitate the additional rooms a small single storey extension is required. The rest of the site will receive a thorough refurbishment.

gcp are delighted to be assisting Elim with this project continuing a long relationship with them supporting their aims to improve the lives and opportunities of those in need.

Walwyn Gardens receives planning consent

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gcp has secured planning consent to refurbish and extend Walwyn Gardens retirement housing in Hartcliffe, Bristol. Bristol City Council who own and manage the site appointed gcp to provide designs for this comprehensive refurbishment and upgrade of the 1960’s apartment blocks.

The building has suffered historic issues with damp and structural issues and requires substantial internal and external maintenance and repair works. Following a consultation event with the residents, proposals were finalized that will rejuvenate the site improving the quality and appearance of the site brining a new lease of life to these old buildings.

The following works are included in the proposals: 

·         Replacement of existing common room & ancillary facilities building including the addition of two new flats over and new lift in lieu of a ramp on ground floor

·         Replace uPVC curtain walling enclosing the access walkways with new walls.

·         Construct two new fire escape stairs on east wings of the building

·         Improve energy performance and appearance of the building by over cladding the existing walls.

·         Internal alterations to improve the accessibility of the building

·         Landscaping of the gardens

The scheme is already out to tender, it is hoped work will commence on site in the new year.

uwe enterprise studio launches academic research project based on gcp initiative

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Lawrence Weston Community Hub

A Healthy City Week 2016 event organised by gcp Chartered Architects has created a far ranging multi stage research project between University of the West of England Enterprise Studio and Ambition Lawrence Weston.  The project will look at the benefits the Lawrence Weston Community Hub will bring to the people of Lawrence Weston. The hub comprises of a range of public and voluntary sector services including a gp practice, pharmacy, public health offices, library, community rooms (meetings, dance, exercise etc), shared consulting rooms and office space for Ambition Lawrence Weston.

The project, to be undertaken by a number of Masters interns in successive years, will examine the benefit the hub is expected to deliver concerning community health and well-being. The project will look at three clear phases to the project, namely before, during and after implementation of the Hub with the first year of the study essentially a baseline and planning year.

Jonathan Platt, director at gcp, part of the wider research support group said

“Having been part of the original group that managed to safeguard the development site for the hub, we are delighted the potential benefits of such an intervention (the hub) are central to this research project. So often capital investments are committed without hard evidence as to the real benefits the idea will deliver. Hopefully this research will demonstrate that such One Public Estate projects can bring real benefits to both public finances, but also the host community they are designed to support”.

The project is expected to start on site in early 2018 with a planning completion before the end of the year.

st monica trust looks to the future

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Cote Lane site. St Monica Trust

Cote Lane site, St Monica Trust

St Monica Trust is a long-established provider of retirement accommodation in Bristol offering over 55 flats on lease hold or a rental basis to long term nursing and dementia care.  They operate five sites in and around Bristol, with their Cote Lane site in North Bristol forming the hub of their activities.  The Cote Lane site, established in 1924 by the Wills family, now provides accommodation for over 320 residents in a range of fantastic buildings within a beautifully landscaped nine-acre site. The site also accommodates the Trust and over all the sites employs over 500 staff including care, hospitality and administrative functions.

gcp Chartered Architects have been appointed to develop a far ranging Five-Year Enhancement Plan for the site.  The Enhancement Plan is looking to upgrade many of the on-site facilities and create an ‘open retirement village’ where the gym, swimming pool, coffee shop, restaurant and hall are open to local people, schools and businesses.

The Trust is ambitious and is keen to future proof the site by ensuring it continues to provide sector leading facilities and standards of care. If approved by the trustees the works will be delivered over a five-year period starting in 2018.

During 2017, gcp supported the Trust with the development of B Block and Somer Dining, a restaurant forming part of the £60m Chocolate Quarter development in Keynsham.

chocolate quarter nears opening

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Jeremy Pilling, Bruce French and Esther Brown enjoying pizza at BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

Jeremy Pilling, Bruce French and Esther Brown enjoying pizza at BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

Signage for BBlock Restaurant at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham

St Monica Trust have invested over £60m in the redevelopment of the former Fry’s chocolate factory in Keynsham (between Bristol and Bath) in creating a new retirement community, The Chocolate Quarter.  As part of the soft launch and pre-opening staff training, staff at gcp enjoyed a wood-fired pizza in B Block, the gcp designed bistro / bar that forms a suite of facilities open to the public.

B Block and sister restaurant, Somer Dining, will open on Monday 6th November.

Following on from their work at The Chocolate Quarter, gcp Chartered Architects have been appointed to develop A Five-Year Enhancement Plan for the Trust’s prestigious Cote Lane site in North Bristol, the jewel in the Trust’s crown.

A Community in Transition

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gcp have submitted a planning application on behalf of Ambition Lawrence Weston for a Community Hub.
 
Lawrence Weston Community Hub is a 'bottom-up' community-led development. It incorporates a doctors' surgery, pharmacy, café, library, studios, space for other health and council services, small businesses and a crèche.
 
Ambition Lawrence Weston is a resident-led Development Trust, established as part of the Community Planning process. Within the Community Plan, completed in 2013, residents expressed a desire for a new community facility.  With funding support from the HCA and SIB, the project has developed in close consultation with local people.
 
The Hub incorporates a fabric-first, low energy approach, reducing running costs for the future. The project is now part of the NHS future plan for primary care in North Bristol. A planning decision is due at the beginning of July 2015.
 
If you would like more information please contact Jonathan Platt.