Sector:
Residential - social and affordable housing
Client:
LiLAC (a specially formed consortium) with Leeds City Council as ultimate client.
Project value:
£80 million PFI with a construction value in excess of £60 million
Form of contract:
Bespoke PFI
Duration:
36 months
Site location:
Leeds
The Independent Living Project forms a major part of a modernisation programme which aims to significantly improve accommodation, housing-related support and care services for adults with learning disabilities or mental health needs and disabled children. The objective of this PFI project is to transform residential services to provide the maximum opportunity for service users to live as independently as possible. Jack Lunn Construction will provide a range of flats, houses and bungalows in 75 buildings constructed on 41 sites around the Leeds area over a three year period. The new properties with residential management and care provision will make a tremendous difference to the lives of service users who previously lived in 13 hostels. It allows them to live closer to their own communities in smaller, less institutional and more independent settings.
As design and build contractor, Jack Lunn Construction has played a key role in programming the 41 sites since PFI credits were first awarded to Leeds City Council. The company underwent a two-year extensive application process to reach preferred bidder status. One of the principal considerations has been to integrate a seamless transition of moving existing tenants into temporary premises whilst building their new homes. We have worked closely with Leeds City Council to ensure that each property meets the individual needs of the people who will ultimately occupy them.
In addition, the company will build a disabled children's short break centre that will provide opportunities for 12 disabled young people at a time. Young people and their parents have been active partners in the planning of the centre, which will include a unit where young people can learn self-care skills leading to independence.
The new properties complement the local surroundings, and are mostly built using traditional solid building materials such as brick and concrete roof tiles. The properties have been designed to be light, airy and spacious and to avoid the risk of accident or self-harm. Wherever possible, the windows look out onto landscaped gardens or natural surroundings and feature sensory gardens. The properties have been designed with plenty of open space, including planted areas to attract wildlife.
All the properties are built to ‘Secure by Design’ standards and include private and protected gardens, clear and well-lit entrances and the master controls for utilities are placed behind closed doors. All of the properties and their heating systems are very energy-efficient. The materials we are using to build the houses and flats are rated ‘A’ in the Green Guide to Housing Specification. Where possible, materials have been sourced locally to reduce the length of delivery journeys and all the wood is from sustainable sources.
For more information please contact the Marketing Department on 0113 236 2777.