The existing 28 flats at Bonney Court in Swanley were deemed no longer fit for purpose, so were therefore demolished. Pellings were appointed by the West Kent Housing Association to provide architecture services, transforming the unused land into 26 high-quality one- and two-bedroom flats, and four three-bedroom family homes.

The contemporary design of the new build housing aimed to make day-to-day living comfortable and enjoyable for the elderly within an environment designed to create a community feel. We undertook thorough consultation with residents from the local community to ensure that the scheme would innovatively meet the needs of the elderly residents, many of whom have healthcare issues regarding their mobility and state of mind. Subsequently, the new apartments are open plan for ease of movement and have reliable security features, such as doors that require keycodes. In addition, the scheme’s design recognises that the requirements of its tenants may change over time and consequently incorporates features that allow for this, such as wheelchair access and suitable bathroom facilities. Furthermore, to guarantee that we provided added value, we ensured that high-quality, low-maintenance external materials were used in the project, including zinc roofing and powder coated aluminium doors and windows.

This was a fantastic project to be involved in as we could not only provide the services required, but we also gave residents efficiently designed, modern accommodation which surpassed their needs and expectations.