London & South East

Fair Mile redevelopment to transform Victorian lunatic asylum

 Fairmile TH-FairMile-CGIAn exciting project to transform the Grade II listed Fair Mile hospital and grounds in Cholsey, Oxfordshire, into converted and new build flats and houses is well underway.

The Fair Mile hospital was originally opened in 1870 as the County Lunatic Asylum for Berkshire, and the main hospital, lodge houses, chapel, and landscaped gardens are listed. The hospital closed in 2003.

The plans by the landowner Homes and Community Agency (HCA) and developer Thomas Homes will transform the Victorian hospital into 95 residential units, 39 social units, 11 commercial units and 3 community spaces. In addition, 220 new build units are being built within the grounds by developer Linden Homes, part of the Galliford Try Group.Fairmile

The staged project began at the start of this year and will continue over the next 3-4 years. Thomas Homes expect the first conversion block to be complete in February 2012.

Thomas Homes is internally dividing the old hospital wards into flats and houses, and external works will comprise the landscaping of the listed gardens. After extensive consultation with the landscape department, plans were drawn up to reinstate the walls, gardens and airing court, where patients of the former lunatic asylum would sit. Wherever possible, period features – including windows and internal timber panelling – have been kept and refurbished in order to respect the historical importance of the building.Fairmile

The project is also sustainable: the conversion units by Thomas Homes have achieved standards of Eco Homes ‘Very Good’ and Building for Life ‘Silver’.

Paula Foxley, the Technical Director of the Thomas Homes part of the project, said: “It is an extremely interesting project. The former hospital is in a beautiful setting, with landscaping right down to the River Thames. It has also been a challenge: in essence we are trying to convert and upgrade a very old building up to modern standards – the houses and flats will be built to Eco Homes ‘Very Good’ and Secured by Design – which has made the project very unique. There has been extensive consultation with the local community throughout the process. The aim of the project is to bring the hospital back into the heart of the community; indeed, there are plans for the hall to hold community events, and the possibility of a crèche. There are also plans for commercial development, including cafes and restaurants in the old farm yard area. This is not a standalone project; the hospital is an intrinsic part of the village of Cholsey, and we aim to bring it back to life.”

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