03 - 07 - 2024
Two of our affordable, specialist housing schemes have been shortlisted in the Best Supported Housing Development category at the 2024 Inside Housing Development Awards.
Valley Drive, an over 55’s development in Gravesend designed for Gravesham Borough Council has been shortlisted in the Rural/Suburban category, and Bessborough Road in Wandsworth, a specialist scheme for residents with learning disabilities designed for Wandsworth Borough Council has been shortlisted in the Urban category.
Valley Drive is an age-friendly housing scheme consisting of two 100% affordable housing buildings, one general needs, and one for over 55’s independent living. A generous communal courtyard provides high-quality amenity space for neighbourly interaction and outdoor activities, exercise, and gardening. BPTW developed specific downsizer typologies, informed by research with the Council and elderly residents. As a result, our ‘one-bedroom plus’ typology was developed with flexibility in its layout to cater to ‘right sizer’ needs. This typology is now being rolled out across Gravesham Borough Council’s over 55’s new build programme.
Photography credit: Fotohaus
At Bessborough Road, BPTW has developed eight one-bed homes for residents with learning disabilities in collaboration with Wandsworth Borough Council’s Development team (Homes for Wandsworth), specialist occupational therapist and Adult Social Service Commissioning teams. The new supported homes are fully adaptable to accommodate the largest variation in needs, and the ground-floor apartments are fully wheelchair accessible. A sensory garden caters to residents’ needs and a fully inclusive, refurbished playground has been designed for the neighbourhood’s children to use. The project aims to achieve Passivhaus Low Energy by incorporating brise-soleil, louvres and MVHR/EAHPs systems to mitigate overheating. A biodiverse roof and PV Panels also improve the building’s energy efficiency and reduce energy bills for residents.
Congratulations to all of the shortlisted schemes and we look forward to the winners announcement in September.
