Lynwood House – Mixed New Build Development

Lynwood House a new build mixed development, which includes 33Nr 2 bedroom luxury apartments for the 55s, GP surgery and community facilities has just started on site in March 2013, for more information on this exciting project please read the article.

Elvet Consultants have been seconded into Derwentside Homes, as a Project Manager to deliver their Homes and Community Agency (HCA) funded new build programme. Lynwood House is situated within Lanchester, Durham which provided assisted living one bedroom flats for older person accommodation. In 2010 Durham County Council decided to close the accommodation and since then it has remained derelict falling into disrepair. The site is within a conservation area and is of significant local interest due this and its proximity to the village centre and the loss of service that the original facility provided.

Due to the local interest in the site the Lynwood House Partnership was formed in 2006 to represent local residents and stakeholders in the shaping of any future development of premises. It was the partnership’s aspiration to ensure that the development provides “an innovative multi-user centre for the benefit of a wide range of users” including health and wellbeing facilities, local community group resources and enhanced elderly care provision.

In 2011, The Lynwood House Integrated Care Centre Community Investment Company (CIC) was formed with the following partners:

• Lanchester Partnership
• Park House Surgery, Lanchester
• Lanchester Pharmacy
• Derwentside Homes

The aim of the CIC is to align the partners’ aspirations and operational values with that of the wishes of the local community and other stakeholders to ensure the retention and enhancement of a focal community facility.

Due to the complexity of the development the CIC agreed that Derwentside Homes would become the lead developer of the site. The CIC however still plays an important role within the project, remaining a stakeholder within the development. Elvet Consultants were engaged as Project Manager on behalf of Derwentside Homes to deliver the scheme in accordance with their requirements.

Since our appointment the stakeholders have changed due to funding issues or general business decisions during the design stage; however after the appointment of Edwards Architecture, as lead designer an agreement was reached in August 2011 that remained true to the original vision of the site and satisfied the requirements of all remaining stakeholders. The final submission issued for planning approval including the following proposal.

Over 55s luxury apartments:

Derwentside Homes is to provide luxury independent living accommodation to the meet the requirements of older people, building upon the success of two similar schemes at Haven House and Magdalene Court. The properties will fulfil Durham County Councils requirements for affordable housing within the area by providing 20 apartments at affordable rent levels with 13 for sale. The building will be constructed to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 including DCCs requirement of 10% of the energy generated to run the building to be sourced from sustainable sources, which has meant the inclusion of Photovoltaic panels and open air source heat pumps over and above code requirements. Derwentside Homes are receiving contribution from the Homes and Community Agency (HCA) to deliver the affordable rent apartments.

Doctors Surgery:

Park House Surgery currently operates from Lanchester at Station Road, which has been long established within the area. The current premises do not meet the needs of a modern 21st century medical practise nor can accommodate the increasing patient numbers. The practice needed to relocate to another site, as it is not possible to extend or modernise the existing building due site restrictions. The surgery wished to remain within the Lanchester area to meet the needs of their patients and identified the Lynwood site as an alternative location for a new bespoke modern facility. Trinity Medical Properties have been working closely with Derwentside Homes as a key stakeholder to ensure that that the surgery meets the short and long term requirements of the existing surgery whilst meeting BREEAM Very Good rating to provide a modern sustainable building.

Community Space:

As part of Derwentside Homes commitment to ensure that the CICs original vision is realised a new community space including office space will form part of the development financed by Derwentside Homes. The facility has been designed to offer flexible space that can be used as a coffee lounge with a modern kitchen the main seating area, which opens up onto a large communal patio with outside seating. All the furniture has been carefully chosen to allow the room to be changed for local meetings, training groups etc., to suit the need of the community.

The scheme has now started on site after the appointment of Galliford Try as the Main Contractor to deliver this exciting project, which is due completion May 2014. We will be positing regular pictures of the development during the construction phase, if you are interested please click here to access and follow us on twitter and facebook using the links at the bottom of the page for regular updates.

If you have any queries regarding this blog or wish to discuss the scheme please do not hesitate to contact us on 0191 501 8690 or alternatively at info@elvetconsultants.co.uk.