Convent Gardens (tbc)

Notting Hill, Octavia Housing

Description of Scheme

The development will provide 13 one-bedroom flats intended as homes for people over 60 years old who are currently able to live independently but may need further support over time.

The flats are designed to enhanced Lifetime Homes standard with full level access through the building, wet floor showers, and the infrastructure for easy retro-fitting of assistive technologies and telecare, including community alarms; the building is served by a lift and an additional stairlift can be retrofitted if required. The building will achieve Code for Sustainable Homes level 4 and is designed to high air tightness and insulation standards. Overheating factors have been considered and will be addressed through passive measures

The housing fully meets four of the HAPPI recommendations (2, 4, 8, 9) and partially meets a further three (3, 5, 7); the others (1, 6, 10) are not applicable given the size of the site and the small scale nature of the scheme

Inclusive design principles (e.g. from HousingLIN or Stirling's DSDC guidance) will be employed to accommodate the various mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments associated with ageing.

Where Is It?

This scheme will be located the heart of Notting Hill a district in west London, largely located within the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. The surrounding area comprises a mix of residential and commercial uses. The local housing mix ranges from post war local authority development, to subdivided Victorian terraces, to upmarket individual period townhouses.

Proximity

Convent Gardens is in the heart of Notting Hill and less than five minutes walk to the shops and market in Portobello Road.

A GP practice is immediately adjacent to the building and local community health and a range of primary health services are available within a ten minute bus ride at St Charles Centre for Health and Well Being

Relevant Local Strategy

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea - Modernising Older People's Housing and Accommodation with Care Services Strategy 2013 (opens new window)

Care Services

The associated Section 106 agreement specifies an age limit (60 plus); other needs will be assessed and tenants will have access to Octavia's Floating Support team

Facilities

The flats are part of a development which includes a dedicated community hub and day centre for older people.

All residents will be eligible to drop into social events and activities including classes run by Open Age, hairdressers, and a social enterprise café. Other services are available for people assessed as having particular care and support needs including an outreach and befriending service.

The centre will also be used by the Octavia Foundation for evening activities for children and young people. The intention is also to offer a range of intergenerational multimedia work including documentaries, short films and drama projects.

Address

Convent Gardens,
London,
W11 1NJ

Scheme Location Map