In a project where the contractors are described as “doing a fantastic job”, a new 34-bedroom care home for older people is under construction, adding to existing facilities on the Westerlands Care Home site at Elloughton Road, Brough, Humberside.
The project is being carried out for Prime Life Ltd by Main Contractors G.S. Kelsey Ltd; Architects are Corporate Architecture and Quantity Surveyors are ADM Surveyors.
“The contractors are doing a fantastic job, on programme and on budget and have overcome all challenges so far – including having to carry out the construction with the existing care facility in full operation. The residents have been able to see the new building take shape and have been involved in selecting the colours for the decor schemes. In the coming months we will be taking them round to see the new building inside” said Mr Simon Van Herrewege, Director of new developments for Prime Life.
Initial works on the scheme included the demolition of a day centre to make way for the new facility.
The new building, under construction on a tiered site, is of three storeys with lower ground floor, ground floor and first floor levels. All of the 34 bedrooms measure 15 sq m or more, with many having fitted furniture and all having full ensuite bathrooms including level access showers. All of the ground floor bedrooms will have patio doors leading onto private patio areas and overlooking secure landscaped gardens.
Communal facilities include a lounge and dining room, all fitted out to an extremely high standard, a hairdressing salon, fully fitted clinic areas, standard bathrooms with baths and fully fitted adapted bathrooms for assisted bathing incorporating jacuzzi spa functions.
The building will be served by Wi-Fi throughout and Sky satellite TV. Other facilities include care stations, staff meeting rooms and offices.
The building is of traditional load bearing construction with brickwork externally, incorporating stone and lead detailing, wooden framed windows and a pitched tiled roof.
Due to difficulty with sandy ground, and unusually high water retention on the site, it was necessary to install water storage tanks.
Other external works include extensive landscaping with block paving and feature focal points and lighting. The garden will be accessible to all, and will be fully secured to ensure the safety of clients with higher end needs.
“This scheme gives the whole site greater longevity. Where some care homes across the country have been designed to comply with older standards, this facility will meet people’s expectations in providing an environment that is comfortable and attractive to live in, but also fit for purpose for those who need varying levels of assistance. Modern facilities offer choice, ranging from the type and style of accommodation, to the wireless nurse call systems being installed, and all level access throughout with wider doors and corridors” said Mr Simon Van Herrewege. The accommodation will offer the comfort and aesthetics older people deserve, but as importantly the care delivered will be able to cater for those with higher end clinical needs, where for some the alternative would be a hospital.
Currently the building is being decorated and the mechanical and electrical second fix is underway. The external works are soon to commence and have been left until now due to the shortage of space required for site welfare, parking and the storage of construction materials on the very tight site.
These are very exciting times for Prime Life’s new development activities with two new care villages – Phoenix Park in Scunthorpe, and Peaker Park in Market Harborough – having also been completed by the company.
These two new facilities provide much needed modern, spacious accommodation that will meet the expectations of stakeholders. They will cater for clients with a range of care needs and requirements, and enable individuals to feel they live in an attractive and comfortable setting where care and support is delivered to them, and they are not moved to suit the needs of others.
GS Kelsey Ltd has its roots in a family with a history of building in North Lincolnshire for over 100 years. Arthur Benjamin Kelsey, established a contracting company in Crowle, north Lincolnshire at the turn of the last century, working mainly for the district councils, the railway and local farmers.
Arthur Snowden Kelsey succeeded his father and continued the business until retirement in 1982
After working as a quantity surveyor for several years, his son Geoffrey Snowden Kelsey established the current company in 1996 with the intention of providing local authorities within the immediate vicinity of Scunthorpe with a small, professional contracting service,
Today, G.S. Kelsey Limited has grown to become a small to medium sized company with an annual turnover of £8 million, operating throughout Humberside, Lincolnshire, south Yorkshire and north Nottinghamshire.
