Design and Build Care Home, Huddersfield
- Client: Horizon Health Care
- Sector: Private Healthcare
- Type: Design & Build/New Build
- Procurement Method: Competitive Tender
- Location: Long Hill Road, Huddsersfield
- Project Value: c £750,000
Project Description
The project consisted of the Design and Build of a new 8-bed timber frame/stone faced
The Challenge
The site was on a busy residential road and in close proximity to a local supermarket.
Due to local mine workings, the foundation/slab had to be designed to provide a grouted solution with an even spread of loadings considered. Consideration was given to civil works by close liaison with the highways authority, the council, and local residents.
Site remodelling and shaping were undertaken to allow the foundation and slab installation, and the provision of drainage attenuation to be installed to suit the site contours, ensuring compliance with the height stipulations of the approved planning. The level door access requirement, and the chosen construction method, imposed difficulties with regards to the base plate level of the frame being the same as the surrounding ground level. The home provides care for disabled patients. Therefore, the architectural design required further additions to ensure safety for all residents during the design and development process.
The Solution
Through conducting further investigations, excavations and grouting were necessary to ensure the validity of the concrete slab foundation was designed based upon a 3m span to provide a sufficient platform to support the superstructure.
To overcome the level access issues, we provided sunken flower beds to the perimeter of the building in order to lower the ground near the base of the frame to ensure compliance with TRADA (Timber Frame) recommendations.
Provisions were added to the paths and raised areas, in the form of barriers and knee rails to ensure safety restrictions for wheelchair users around the Site.
Key Achievements
The works ran smoothly through close and regular communications between the project managers, Site Team and all parties involved.
The works were completed ahead of the programme, and the Client was very pleased with the final quality and design of the project. The Home has subsequently received the “Outstanding” grade by CQC Inspectors and there are intentions of using this project as its “flagship” model moving forward. We are currently in negotiation to provide a similar building on a more complex sloping site.
