After adding 27 extra homes to Glen Lodge in 2018, work is starting to refurbish and make the 32 original apartments more energy-efficient, accessible and comfortable.
This popular independent living community in Heworth was originally built in the 1970s and a £4 million investment in 2018 added 25 new apartments and two new bungalows to it.
The extensive refurbishment of the original building will put the original living and communal spaces on a par with the new extension.
The refurbishment includes:
- complete rewiring and replumbing
- installing a new heating system compatible with a low-energy and low-carbon air source heat pump
- increasing current levels of insulation including insulating balconies to keep temperatures more constant in all seasons
- fitting new double-glazed windows
- completely replacing all kitchens and bathrooms with accessible fittings
- giving three ground floor apartments improved access to the scheme’s gardens by adding external doors, and adding patios – where space permits.
The work is due to complete in spring 2025 when residents will be able to move in.
£4m project to provide more extra care at Glen Lodge gets underway
Work to extend a City of York Council sheltered accommodation scheme is starting to deliver a £4 million investment to increase and further improve care services for older people.
Glen Lodge Housing with Extra Care Scheme is being extended as part of the council’s plans to modernise accommodation for older people in the city with 25 new flats and two new bungalows being built.
As well as the proposed extension, the council is also working to extend the existing help and support available to residents – known as ‘extra care’ – so it is available 24 hrs a day, seven days a week. This will enable even more people with higher care and support needs to live at Glen Lodge.
The work is part of the Older People’s Accommodation Programme which aims to give older people more choice and control about the care and support they receive.
Local contractor William Birch is carrying out the works and will have a number of apprentices working on the project. Danny Langdon, David Hayes and Chris Horsley, all at various stages of their bricklaying apprenticeships with York College, are working under their mentor, Steve Bailey, a highly-skilled bricklayer. They will initially be working on the new bungalows and will then move on to the main building.
Councillor Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health said: “It is great to see work is underway to provide 27 new homes for older people – built with the help of apprentices. With York’s population of people aged 75 and older expected to rise by 50 per cent by 2030, this work is part of our city-wide plan to modernise accommodation for older people in which high quality services can be delivered. We remain committed to this scheme, providing residents with a wide choice of quality accommodation to meet their needs and to ensure the best quality of life.
“I’m very pleased too that a local contractor is undertaking this important building work and is involving local apprentices in it.”
Simon Potter, Construction Manager for William Birch said: “We are delighted to be working with the council on a project that can engage a number of our York-based apprentices. We have worked hard with City of York Council over the last couple of years on projects that have brought great social value to the local community through employment and skills initiatives as well as engaging a local supply chain. This was recognised last month at the 2016 RISE (Research Innovation Sustainability Enterprise) awards hosted by Leeds Beckett University where we won in the category of Social Value for the work we completed at Fulford School, as well as the accolade the previous year of York Small Employer 2015’at the York Apprenticeship Awards. We are pleased to be continuing this trend at Glen Lodge and our apprentices are delighted to be working on projects in the community in which they live.”
It is anticipated that the work will be completed in July 2017 with residents moving in that summer.
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