New Fully Accessible Bungalow handed over to first Disabled Tenant

• Posted by Ian Eggleton on 20th Jul ’09 at 15:48 BST
• 2 comments

Evans Jones oversees refurbishment of bunglaow to achieve first fully accessible Council House in Cheltenham

The first new council house in Cheltenham for over 15 years has been added to the Cheltenham Borough Homes portfolio in an exciting scheme to provide low energy, accessible accommodation.



The property, adjacent to Springbank Community Centre, was previously used as the local Doctor’s Surgery, and has now been converted in a unique partnership formed by members of the CBH Decent Homes project team and suppliers.

Boasting level access throughout, and designed around wheelchair users’ needs, the property has been designed so that hoists and power operation of windows and doors can be added as required by the individual needs of a tenant. Roof strengthening, power supplies and removable door heads mean that full-coverage ceiling hoists can be seamlessly installed at minimal disruption when needed.

Basins and kitchen worktops have adjustability built in, and shower areas have full wheelchair level access and grab rails/ shower seats to ease the bathing process.

Part of the brief from CBH was to include renewable energy technologies where feasible and cost-effective, and to minimise fuel costs. Following assessment of various options, it was decided to specify a combined solar water heating/ condensing gas boiler system, with low surface temperature radiators throughout.

Minimising heat loss was all-important in reducing fuel costs, and to achieve this, insulation in the floor, walls and roof was upgraded, and the windows were replaced with highly insulated sustainable timber units.

The finished bungalow was made possible by the generous contribution of products and services by a number of locally-based or locally involved manufacturers and contractors. The main building contractor, Lovell Partnerships, has been heavily involved in the CBH Decent Homes programme for the last five years. The preferred supplier of building materials to CBH is Travis Perkins, and they have given generously to this one-off project. The heating and solar panel system were supplied by Ferroli via Travis Perkins, and installed by P H Jones, CBH’s gas service and maintenance partner. The kitchen was supplied by Premiere Kitchens of Gloucester and shower mixers by Kohler Mira of Cheltenham.

Architectural, Project Management and Access Consultancy services were provided by established Cheltenham practice Evans Jones LLP, chosen for their Access Consultancy expertise. “This has been a very exciting project to be involved in. We’ve managed to provide a high quality, good looking home that is both accessible and low energy, with built-in flexibility that can be easily adapted as tenants needs change in future”, says Project Manager Robin Hill of Evans Jones.

CBH’s Head of Property Services, Chris Williams commented: “I showed the new tenant round the property last week as the finishing touches were being made, and they are excited by the high quality facilities provided in their new home. I’m delighted that our partners have contributed so generously to this project to give something back to the local community, creating an asset that will improve the lives of tenants with mobility needs for many years to come.”

The new tenant of the property is really looking forward to the ease of access offered by the bungalow, making cooking, washing and moving around so much easier than their previous accommodation. In particular they can’t wait to enjoy the sun-trap afforded by the new level access patio in the rear garden.