The site benefitted from an existing outline planning consent and PRC were commissioned to undertake a full design review of the existing approved design scheme and the client’s brief to ascertain where amendments were required, whilst working within the planning and design constraints previously established during the outline design process.

The review informed the following amendments:

• Introduction of a Wellness Suite
• A more functional and attractive village core entrance
• Reinstate bowling green
• Greater emphasis on spatial enclosure and linkage
• Elevational design improvements based on further local study
• Wider green margins to specific boundaries
• Greater retention of trees

This was all undertaken liaising with the client and additional design team consultants through regular design team meetings and separate consultant and client meetings.

A different design approach was adopted to meet the required amendments to the scheme design, providing a different architectural solution resulting in more refined clusters of close care apartments to give a more intimate layout form and secure environment. The addition of a Wellness Suite comprising swimming pool with changing facilities, gymnasium, fitness room and health spa provides further enhanced communal facilities for health and well- being. Other communal facilities include a library, arts and crafts room and bowling green to promote recreational activities for the residents. The inclusion of the adaptation of the cottage to a village shop & cafe provides a natural linkage between the care community and the wider village community.

The care centre building is designed to take on the appearance of a large country house with smaller scale accommodation wings providing a transition to the cottage style two storey apartment courtyard clusters. Enhancement of the existing stream, lake and woodland to provide a feature when viewed from the care centre building. Greater integration of the car parking into the apartment clusters with clearly defined linkage between the differing areas of accommodation. The location of the buildings addresses the sites undulating topography and wider context landscaping.

The existing thatched cottage adjacent to the discretely located main site entrance to be converted to a traditional village shop with cafe for usage by the residents, stocking locally sourced produce. The main site access drive is tree lined which assist in providing screening of the main care centre building and associated car parking from the village road and buildings. Additional separation space is provided between the new buildings and existing village cottages with enhanced indigenous boundary screen planting.