Phase 1 of new mental health facilities has been completed in Barrow-in-Furness, creating single en-suite bedrooms for 20 Patients. The development  includes a variety of lounge, dining, gym and OT spaces, access to safe and secure courtyard gardens for Patients, and vastly improved facilities for both visitors and staff . Phase 2 will be complete in early summer 2012 and will provide 15 beds for people with dementia.

The Cumbria Partnership also made a little film…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBsPBKqhWJ0&feature=youtu.be

This development with Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust will extend and remodel an existing mental health facility in two phases. Procured through P21 with Mansell the development will create a 20-bed Adult Acute unit and a 15-bed Dementia Unit.

Recent success on the golf course has given me a free round of golf for 4 at Chester le Street. We have to give a few days notice, and it needs to be on a weekday to avoid competitions, but if anyone is interested please give me a shout. The voucher is valid until this time next year, so plenty of time! 

Names in a hat please…

Seaham Health Centre has received Planning Approval from County Durham.

Procured through LIFT with Accent and CP25 the new health centre will provide “state of the art” primary care in Seaham. It’s been designed as part of a new Public Realm for St John’s Square, which will include a new park, Library and office space. The project is due to start on site in early 2010.

Whilst waiting for a meeting to start at a well known Contractor’s offices, I notices a little ditty they had lying around…

Did you know your photo driving licence expires after 10years and needs to be renewed? Driving with an expired licence could attract a fine of up to £1000!

Just under the driver name and next to the photo is number 4b – this is the date of expiry. Check it – the first photo licences were issued in July 1998 so yours may be about to expire.

Boring, but consider yourselves warned.

Eight units for Home Group have been completed. Built in partnership with STG, the development of two bed bungalows and two and three bed houses adds to six units designed by P+HS over 10years ago.

Thanks to all who came to the Malcolm Fraser lecture last night in Newcastle – even though he was 45mins late I think he still inspired us. Talking about projects that have their feet firmly planted in history and tradition, his contemporary outlook and storytelling in buildings raised debate that is worth continuing.

Image – Malcolm Fraser Architects

In the efforts to keep us sane with a bit of informative fun, todays BD issue online has a wee link to test your knowledge of the built environment.

Try it its fun…and slightly frustrating!

A development for Erimus Housing of 22no. apartments for social rent and 4no. bungalows for sale in Billingham

Apparently it rained a bit whilst I was having a sunny time in the French Alps. But don’t panic because the architecture students god Mr Hertzberger (and others) have come up with a plan.

Sourced from the Guardian Unlimited 21st January 2008

I’m sad, I know…but a visit to the 1958 World Expo in Brussels is a fun few hours in spaceland. Re-opened in Feb 2006, its just had its millionth visitor…

more

The P+HS fun day out in Manchester should have inspired us all.  Thanks to the Social Committee (+ Eamon, + Phil the tourguide) for organising another successful event. I’m sure everyone will agree it was worth the early morning train journey…even Patrick, who failed to surface until lunchtime!

Billed as the first complete guide to the process of creating successful sustainable places, the new Urban Design Compendium 2 is officially approved by the UK’s two most powerful regeneration agencies – soon to become one – the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships.

Launched last week, with its own supporting interactive web version, the new urban design bible is presented as the successor to the seven year-old Urban Design Compendium, but with an emphasis on project deliver. Accordingly the steps to success are concerned more with design management than detailed design solutions; the five key steps are entitled commitment and leadership, integrated approach, adding value, working collaboratively, and legacy and management.

UDC2 also identifies the main barriers to good urban design, presenting a range of exemplar schemes as examples of how to overcome them.

The new guide can also be read as a supporting document to the Corporation’s new Design and Quality standards which will apply to all schemes in its forthcoming 2008-11 investment programme.

‘The first Urban Design Compendium transformed our understanding of what constitutes good urban design,’ said Trevor Beattie, English Partnerships’ Director of Corporate Strategy. ‘Seven years and 25,000 copies later we need the same transformation in our approach to delivery. Urban Design Compendium 2 is the first complete guide to the process of creating successful sustainable places. It is a practical manual for project delivery and its impact will be measured in the quality of places it inspires.

More information

Source: RIBA Practice Bulletin No. 415 (27 September 2007)