HB Villages

Each residential complex comprises sixteen one-bed, self-contained flats, and are designed to assist users to live independently. Eight are allocated for physical disabilities and eight are allocated for learning disabilities. To support the residents there is also provision of staff sleepover accommodation and a communal lounge. The accommodation within each flat is delivered to a high specification and comprises:

Bedroom with single or ¾ sized beds
Wet room or shower room
Open plan lounge living area and kitchen
Installation of Universal Smart Technology Specialist lighting panels with pre-set settings
Automatic entry for doors and windows with fingerprint reading and specially fitted sensors so doors won’t shut if there is anything in the way
If an individual struggles with movement or suffers from locked in syndrome, technology can be controlled with eye movement only
Ability to monitor the day-to-day routine of an individual to make sure they are managing their tasks and haven’t fallen. It can tell if someone has run the tap to take a drink, used the loo or had a shower.

Communal areas foster interaction between residents and include a lounge on the ground floor and landscaped external areas and office space. Security and the safety of visitors featured heavily in the brief and as such CCTV is in operation throughout and key fobs are required to move around the building. The units have been designed so that the staff office is located adjacent to the main entrance, to enable staff to monitor movements of residents and visitors. The projects include PV array, natural ventilation, and lighting where possible, flow restricted taps and high efficiency boilers.

More recently this private client has moved into the extra care market and is taking the learning from these projects to deliver on a larger scale.