Sheltered Accommodation Project – Elfreda House, Essex

We were approached in 2019 by an Essex-based Local Authority to provide a design for the replacement of an existing block of 32 bedsit flats for the over 60s as part of their regeneration programme of the Sheltered Accommodation blocks.

The brief was to demolish the existing building and replace it with 34 one-bedroom flats and 2 two-bedroom flats, which met the National Space Standards and current Planning Policy. No mean feat to increase the property density on a small site while meeting modern-day planning policy and the technical requirements of the current Building Regulations.

The only way this could be achieved was to build up, which resulted in a three-storey building with two top-floor terraces accessible from two separate lifts.

The building uses no gas at all, with all heating provided by Air Source Heat Pumps located on a separate terrace. The design was specifically created for the over 60s in mind and for those suffering from dementia, with key design features such as:

• Increased parapet heights
• Avoidance of dark colours on floor coverings
• Glazed balconies affording uninterrupted views when seated

Future proofing of the structure was a key strategy, including building-in the ability for the installation of hoists between bedroom spaces and private bathrooms, as well as the ability to remove some or all internal partitions in the flats by ensuring all partitions are non-load bearing.

RTA’s role extended to providing the following:

1. Adoption of the client’s BIM interface/software.
2. Design conception.
3. Production of 3D drawings suitable for Planning.
4. Submission of full Planning Application.
5. Discharging of Planning Conditions.
6. Co-ordination of the design team up to RIBA stage 3.
7. Production of Building Regulation drawings and submission to the LABC.
8. Production of the technical design including construction drawings.
9. Production of the full construction issue specification of works using the NBS software written using the UNICLASS method clause arrangement.
10. Submission of the technical design to LABC Warranty provider.
11. 3D Visualisations.
12. Architectural support throughout the RIBA stages 5-7.
13. Designer duties under the CDM Regulations 2015.

RTA invested over 4 years into this project from inception to completion. It has produced a building that we are incredibly proud of both in design terms and in its success.