Derbyshire Dales District Council has been shortlisted for the prestigious Housing Innovation Awards for its Almshouses project – primarily for the renovation of Wirksworth’s original Grade 2 listed Almshouse.
To be held at Birmingham's International Convention Centre in February next year, the Awards feature a Best Retrofit Innovation or Project section, where the District Council is the only local authority in a shortlist of 10.
Judges were impressed by the Council's partnership work with the Anthony Bunting Almshouse Charity in refurbishing Wirksworth’s original Almshouse after 440 years, creating affordable housing fit for purpose for many more years to come and achieving a real step change in the energy conservation of the building.
The Council provided a total of £400,000 capital and revenue funding to the renovation of the flats, which are situated in a conservation area, improving the EPC rating from F to an upper D and bringing a significant reduction in CO2 emissions from 5.1 to 0.5 tonnes a year.
Director of Housing Rob Cogings said: "This retrofit project is the third in a series of six Almshouse improvements the Council is financing. The model we have chosen involves helping to support Almshouse trustees so they can become retrofit ambassadors within their communities. Almshouses are often hard to treat and reflect the neighbouring homes around them. It's interesting to note that 50% of Derbyshire Dales homes were built before 1919.
“We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Housing Innovation Awards and will continue to support small community-based housing providers deliver much need homes for rent. It is great to see these historic homes given a new lease of life.”
In 1584, Anthony Gell of Hopton Hall, near Wirksworth, stipulated in his Will that his executor and brother Thomas Gell should “within a year and a half of my death bestow of the making and building of one Almshouse in the side of the Hannage near the new bridge the sum of £60”.
The Almshouse originally comprised six flats, though by 1963 the accommodation had been altered to allow for four larger flats. Over the last 60 years these flats had received some upgrade, but the fabric of the building had deteriorated significantly with age.
Reducing the residents’ fuel bills and improving the quality of their accommodation was an important consideration, and to achieve this the very latest of technologies were employed, while incorporating them in a sympathetic way.
The building work was completed in June this year, taking seven months. The project was delayed when Saxon remains were discovered during excavations. An air source heat pump has been installed to heat the flats, via both underfloor heating and radiators, ensuring that the temperature in the flats is maintained at 21 degrees. This has been made possible by stripping all plasterwork back to brick and applying the latest technology in insulating plaster material. In addition, a full ventilation and heat extraction system and double-glazed windows have been installed to ensure a steady internal temperature is achieved. Each of these elements has been necessary to achieve the required objective.
The opportunity was also taken to install new kitchens and bathrooms, to a high standard, and, where possible, improve the ease of use for those who have mobility issues.
Nigel Johns, chair, the Anthony Gell and Anthony Bunting Almshouse Charity, said: “This project has demonstrated that, with careful planning, an historic building can be refurbished in a way that delivers a considerable improvement in its energy efficiency, whilst not compromising the historic fabric of the building.
“The trustees of the charity are delighted that such a historic building is set up for many years to come, whilst protecting the legacy of Anthony Gell. At the same time this has provided comfortable and affordable accommodation to the residents, which is so important.”
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