Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT), part of the First Ark Group, is delighted to announce that it’s Extra Care scheme, Bluebell Park, has been shortlisted in the ‘Older Peoples Development of the year’ category as part of the Inside Housing 2016 Top 60 Development Awards. This prestigious award celebrates the triumphs of the sector and includes some of the most notable landlords, developers, and architects in the country.
Bluebell Park in Huyton, Merseyside, was designed by PRP Architects to deliver 101 new homes for affordable rent, including seven apartments for dementia sufferers alongside 21 shared-ownership apartments plus a restaurant, lounge areas, hairdressing salon and activity rooms.
This contemporary building has been sensitively integrated into its wider surroundings with the two blocks enclosing a new public square as well as generous landscaped gardens, providing effective privacy for residents.
KHT wanted to create homes that provided flexibility for residents’ changing independent living needs and to be able to support residents with future adaptations to their homes should they need specialist assistive care.
Claire Heaney, Chief Operating Officer for the First Ark Group, said “This type of development at Bluebell Park is a great model for providing quality accommodation for our older generation. In essence, Bluebell supports older people to live independently in their own homes, reducing costs to the NHS and social care providers. Within First Ark we are honoured that our successful collaboration with PRP Architects has resulted in Bluebell being shortlisted in the’ Older People’s Development of the year’ category.
The award winners will be announced on the 14th of October 2016 at the Lancaster Hotel in Central London.
To find out more about Knowsley Housing Trust, visit: www.k-h-t.org.