Beard was employed as the main contractor in the extension and modernisation of an existing residential care home for young adults with learning difficulties in Swindon.
The new single storey home is an extension to a 1970’s bungalow and provides 6 bedrooms, two assisted bathrooms, an en-suite shower room, kitchen, living room, dining area and laundry. The bathrooms have been specially designed for disabled children with hydraulic baths which fill and empty automatically. Hoists have been provided in the bedrooms and bathrooms to help with mobility. Outside, children have access to a garden and courtyard.
Challenges and solutions
Access to the building site was one of the construction team’s biggest challenges.
The building is located at the top of a cul-de-sac with cars parked on either side of the road. This made the delivery of large loads difficult.
To overcome this problem Beard negotiated the use of a pub car park with a local landlord. At the end of the contract Beard landscaped an area of the pub car park to provide a children’s play area.
Deliveries had to be co-ordinated so that they did not impact upon a neighbouring school’s pick-up and drop-off times.
“We were delighted with the quality of their work and by the very positive and effective communication which existed between the key players involved. Indeed, the willingness of the Beard management team to go that little bit further to ensure that issues were quickly resolved played an important part in the success of the project."
