10 June 2010
Plans have been unveiled by Capita
Symonds’ Southampton regional partnership for the design and
refurbishment of Manston Court, an Extra Care Sheltered Housing
Scheme in Lordshill, Southampton.
When completed in December 2010, the scheme
will become a benchmark for similar housing projects in the city as
the only extra care facility to cater specifically for
mobility-impaired users.
Manston Court consists of 63 self-contained
flats with a new entrance canopy, open plan entrance foyer,
communal lounge, medical treatment areas, commercial kitchen,
dining areas, hair salon, IT suite, cinema / reading room, mobility
scooter store, housing offices and associated circulation
areas.
Paul Stansfield, Assistant Architectural
Services Manager, explains: ”The accommodation is provided for
vulnerable older people, many of whom have additional care needs
which often entails outside agencies visiting them to undertake
personal care tasks, meaning access to flats is vitally
important”.
"Manston Court is one of two dedicated
extra care schemes in the City, this is the only one owned and
managed by Southampton City Council with local Councillors taking a
keen interested in its running and the service being provided to
tenants. The scheme will be fully occupied during the works and
although the works are primarily in the communal areas, the Client
believes that these areas are extensions of people’s homes and it
is expected that contactors treat them as such.
"Capita Symonds is keen to ensure that
disruption to residents is kept to a minimum alongside tenants
being kept informed at all stages of the works. Services to the
building including power, water, fire alarm and warden call alarms
cannot be compromised, so Capita Symonds have developed ten phases
of work that enables refurbishment work to be carried out in safe,
manageable tranches whilst the building is in constant use and then
handed back to users.
"New treatment areas are accessed directly
from the main communal lounge area in private medical bays. This
way users can carry on with their daily social activities whilst
waiting for medical staff to arrive. Information about resident's
blood pressure, heart rates and other data can be sent instantly
from the treatment area to GP's & consultants via wireless
handheld units.
"The refurbished building will be the only
extra care facility in the City to cater specifically for
mobility-impaired users, making entrances and circulation areas
fully accessible, providing a custom built mobility scooter store
with dedicated parking & easy use charging points for
residents.
"The interior design provides a different
colour scheme on each floor level, making it easier for residents
to navigate their way around the building, using colour as a way
finding technique. Brightly coloured panels alongside resident's
front doors not only brighten the circulation areas but aid in
visual recognition. Induction loops will be installed throughout
the building so that hearing impaired residents can use communal
areas. Tactile & bold colour contrasting signage will aid
visually impaired users.
"The newly refurbished Manston Court and
the ideas behind it are being heralded by Southampton City
Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods as the benchmark to
which all supported housing schemes within the City should aspire.
The refurbishment and design ideas are due to be published in
‘Tenant Link Magazine’ & circulated to 18,000 Council tenants
across Southampton.”