Examples of Past Projects

Restful Homes Group, Care Home, Winson Green - Birmingham

Chessmann project managed what was at the time probably the largest-ever care home development in the UK in terms of overall number of beds.

Work began early in 2008 on building two adjacent homes for Restful Homes Group, one of 89 beds and the other of 78 beds, in Winson Green, Birmingham. The two spacious homes have comparable specifications and both incorporate dementia units.  Completed in Spring 2009, they stand on a canal-side site within a few hundred yards of Birmingham City Hospital.

Princess Christian, EMI Unit, Bisley, Surrey

Chessmann provided project management services to Nellsar Limited on their 96 bed EMI unit in Bisley, completed in 2008. 

This project involved the part demolition of the existing home, with the four corner buildings, which are locally listed, being retained to form part of the new care home.  The new construction links the buildings.

The existing structure accommodates many of the 96 bedrooms, and the new building houses the lounges, dining room, kitchen, administration offices and remaining bedrooms.

The care home was designed to provide extensive modern facilities, including a cinema and sensory room located in an extended basement.

St Augustine, Cambian Healthcare Independent Hospital, Stoke on Trent

This is Cambian’s flagship project – their first new build.  Chessmann are working with them on this £5 million plus 32 bed psychiatric rehabilitation unit.

The project started in June 2008 and has a target completion date of 1st May 2009.

Built on the site of a Catholic care home, the design of this unit makes a bold architecturally impressive landmark as its replacement.

Care Home, Salisbury

Completed in Autumn 2008, Chessmann project managed the construction of an 86 bedroom three story home for Cannon Capital Partnership.  Incorporating construction techniques such as heat recovery and sprinkler systems, this home was the first of its kind in England for Cannon.

Meallmore Lodge, Care Home – Greenock

This 90 bed care home, with magnificent views of the estuary and mountain ranges, is close to Greenock Town Centre and amenities.  Built on a brown field site, an old engineering works adjacent to two large residential developments was demolished for its development.

Chessmann provided project management, development management and cost consultancy for this client.

Pastoral Cymru Limited, Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre – Cardiff

Chessmann project managed this £9 million state of the art facility for Pastoral Cymru. The 43 bed mental health rehabilitation centre in west Cardiff was completed in 2009. The centre comprised a gym, swimming pool, impressive conference and therapeutic facilities. Pastoral Cymru has appointed Chessmann previously on their Ystrad 20 bed unit in Rhondda.  Chessmann was also involved in the development of an 80 bed care home in Porth, Ty Porth, for the Rhondda Care Group, the Group being previously owned by Pastoral Cymru’s Managing Director before its sale in 2007.

Barty House, Canford Healthcare Plc, Maidstone

Chessmann’s first project for Canford Healthcare.  Chessmann were appointed as CDM Coordinator, Employers Agent and Project Managers.  This development comprises of a 27 bed extension to a grade 2 listed home.  The extension mainly single storey with a lower ground floor taking advantage of the site topography, and is traditional in construction, with a contemporary design set into the landscaped gardens of the existing home. The home together with a complete refurbishment of the listed building was completed in December 2009.

All Saints Hospital, St George Healthcare Limited, Oldham

We provided Project Management, Employers Agent and CDM Coordinator services for St George Healthcare’s 20 bed residential and rehabilitation unit in the grounds of the Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester. It was designed to low secure registration standards for people with sensory impairment.

Newcastle Road, Cannon Capital Partnership, Congleton

This 60 bed care home for the elderly is being developed by Cannon Capital Partnership LLP and project managed by Chessmann.  The scheme has been specifically designed to achieve a ‘farmhouse’ and ‘barn’ type appearance in order to complement the surrounding area.  As with other projects that Chessmann are working on for Cannon Capital Partnership, the scheme will incorporate a heat recovery and sprinkler system.The scheme is due to commence on site in January 2009 and complete in November 2009. 

Gatehouse Quarter, Cannon Capital Partnership, Aylesbury

Cannon Capital Partnership are developing this 85 bed care home for the elderly which is being project managed by Chessmann.  The scheme forms part of a larger development, known as the Gatehouse Quarter, which includes retail units, a hotel, office, nursery and residential properties.  The contemporary design allows the scheme to sit well between the residential and office developments. The scheme is due to commence on site in January 2009 and complete in March 2010. 

The Towers, Littlecombe Park Limited, Dursley

The second phase of the development for Littlecombe Park Limited (please see past projects).

This is the refurbishment and conversion of an existing commercial brick building into seven “assisted living units”, providing independent retirement accommodation with extra care services.  The building has been extended slightly to facilitate suitably sized apartments, and offers spacious communal lounge and dining areas.

Woodlands Assisted Living Units, Littlecombe Park Limited, Dursley

The third phase of the project for Littlecombe Park Limited.

This is the new build development of sixteen “assisted living units” within the same grounds as The Hollies Nursing Home and The Towers.  This development is providing two bedroom apartments on four floors, spread over a split level site together with a fitness suite and swimming pool.  Residents will have access to the lounge and dining areas of the neighbouring “Towers”.

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.