Examples of Past Projects

Cornford House, Nursing Home – Tunbridge Wells

This 83 bed nursing home is built on a conservation area in Kent. Due to its Green Belt and conservation area location, it took five years for the owners, Graham Care, of Walton-on-Thames, to get planning permission. With an emphasis on “green features” the design of Cornford House included a passive ventilation system, individual thermal controls for every room, energy-efficient lighting, and the extensive use of natural lighting to reduce energy consumption.

The building construction incorporates sustainable materials such as a timber framed structure and cedar wood cladding for the walls.

Because it is in a conservation area, Cornford House has been designed for low visual impact and environmental sensitivity. Features include a split level design for the ground and lower ground floors, a curved roof structure and plan layout, and careful landscaping.

It replaced a 30 bed home whose facilities had become outdated. Chessmann co-ordinated the demolition of the old building and the two-phase construction of its replacement ensuring minimum disruption to residents and the operation of the care home. Residents did not need to vacate their familiar surroundings during the work.  The project was completed within the two year time period set.

Kents Hill, Nursing Home – Milton Keynes

Project management services were supplied on a 148 bed nursing home in Milton Keynes, then thought to be one of the largest of its kind, for Rowancrest Properties (London) Limited.

This is a 135 bed care home and a 13 bed assisted living unit. Each bedroom exceeds care standard’s minimum sizes and includes individual en suites with shower facilities. The care home was developed over four storeys on a confined city centre site. The project was achieved in both the time scale and budget set by the client.

Claremont Lodge, Retirement Village - Bognor Regis

We worked as project managers, cost consultants and CDM Coordinators for the development of a £5 million up-market retirement village for Royal Bay Care Homes.

The project included a 30 bed residential care home, with each bedroom far exceeding National Minimum Standards and 20 retirement cottages with their own private garden area.

This is an energy efficient complex on a three acre site, incorporating “green” technology, including solar energy for hot water pumps to convert ambient air temperature into energy gains for both hot water and under floor heating.

MHA Care Group – Bristol & Cornwall

Chessmann project managed the development of three separate schemes, Abona Court, Terril Court and Janeva Court, for leasehold quality apartments for independent living for the MHA Care Group.

Abona Court – Bristol

This £2.25million scheme involved the refurbishment of an existing Methodist Church, together with an extension to form 23 one and two bedroom retirement flats.

Terril Court - Bristol

The £1.5million scheme involved the refurbishment of a period building to form 13 one and two bedroom luxury retirement flats.

Janeva Court, Saltash

This was the construction of a £2.4million new purpose-built development of 23 one and two bedroom retirement flats, in addition to a new Methodist Church.

Ty Cwm Rhondda – Low Secure Mental Health Care Centre, Rhondda

Completed at the end of 2007 for Pastoral Cymru Limited, this purpose built facility has two separate 10 bed units and cares for patients who require a lower level of security.

This is just one of the projects where Chessmann has been appointed by Pastoral Cymru.

The Phineas Gage Centre, Therapy Unit - Warrington

Chessmann acted as project managers, cost consultants and CDM Coordinators for the £3 million first phase of the project for St Mary’s Hospital, part of the St George Healthcare Group, providing 24 beds with en suite facilities, and a dedicated therapy unit for people with acquired brain injuries.

Also containing consultation rooms, specialist counselling rooms, a gymnasium, education rooms, domestic training kitchen, and a reception facility, this had a difficult 40 week completion target. Everything was completed on time and on budget.

The Hollies Nursing Home, Dursley, Gloucester

The first of a three phase development (please also see current projects) to construct a 55 bedroom nursing home for Littlecombe Park Limited (formerly Ivybank Care Limited).  The building is a traditional construction over four floors, built into a sloping site which enabled an alternative layout and contemporary design.  The exterior of the construction complements the adjacent existing building.

Llanarth Court Hospital, Medium Secure Unit – Abergavenny

Partnerships in Care appointed Chessmann as cost consultants on the construction of this 26 bed medium secure psychiatric unit situated next to an existing medium secure facilty in an 80 acre rural location. The £6.5 million scheme included a 16 bed psychiatric rehabilitation unit, a 4 bed step down unit and an ancillary block.

Originally owned by the Herbert family, the main building on the site is a listed manor house, and was once also used as a public school.

Cambian Healthcare Independent Hospitals - throughout England & Wales

Chessmann have project managed the successful completion of 8 independent hospitals for specialist sector operator, Cambian Healthcare. Providing full project management services on these schemes, we have taken responsibility for all members of the design teams and co-ordinated all construction and commissioning operations.

Each of the schemes involved the fast-track refurbishment of vacant care homes to provide accommodation for residents requiring mental health rehabilitation.