New supported living scheme gets ready to welcome first residents

The construction of the new Brickfields supported living scheme for people with acquired brain injury or physical disabilities is now complete, with the first residents expected to move in mid-October. 

Grace Eyre Foundation has been appointed to run the care and support service, providing 24-hour onsite support staff for the residents.

The building will be leased to Southdown Housing, meaning that Southdown will be in charge of managing, looking after and repairing the building.  

Once Southdown and the Grace Eyre Foundation are in place, they will be working to connect with the local community and ensure local residents have ways of getting in touch with them.

Our Adult Social Care assessment teams are currently reviewing the people who will be moving into the building once it opens. Due to size of the building, new residents will be moving in gradually over a couple of months.  

Long term, affordable accommodation

The Brickfields development, built on the site of former Knoll House in Hove’s Ingram Crescent, will provide long-term affordable accommodation for people with physical disabilities and brain injuries.

The scheme delivers 28 apartments for independent living accommodation, together with associated communal space, and accommodation for staff to provide 24-hour care and support on-site.

Some units will be specifically for people aged 18 to 25, and two have been designed for bariatric residents.

All the apartments will be wheelchair accessible and have dual-aspect orientations to ensure optimal levels of daylight, privacy and shading.

The building’s generous balconies provide private outdoor space for each flat; residents can also enjoy communal gardens on the ground floor and roof terrace, which are wheelchair accessible throughout.

The design also improves accessibility to existing pathways and provides additional handrails around the site.

The development has been designed to be energy efficient to reduce energy consumption and save residents’ money on bills. This includes air source heat pumps for efficient communal heating, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and low-energy lighting.

To support the local ecosystem, the landscaping on site includes native planting as well as integrate trellises and climbing plants on the building's walls.

There are 28 bee bricks and swift bricks installed in the building to help conserve and enhance biodiversity, protecting it from the impacts of development.

Raised planters are installed across the scheme to allow residents to enjoy gardening, growing vegetables or flowers.

The innovative design of the supported-living scheme has recently been recognised by a prestigious Housing Design Award. 

A life-changing place 

Councillor Mitchie Alexander, Cabinet member for Communities, Equalities, Public Health and Adult Social Care, said: "It’s been wonderful to see this development progress from an ambitious vision to a completed building that is now ready to welcome its first residents.

“Brickfields will provide high-quality, affordable homes where people with physical disabilities and acquired brain injuries can live independently, with the reassurance of tailored support available around the clock. This is exactly the kind of accommodation that helps people live fulfilling lives, with greater choice, dignity and independence.

“We are delighted to be working with Grace Eyre Foundation to provide 24-hour care and support, and with Southdown Housing to manage and maintain the building for residents in the years ahead.

“The scheme has been thoughtfully designed to offer accessible, energy efficient and welcoming spaces, and I am sure it will be a life-changing place for many people who will call it home.

“I would also like to thank local residents for their patience and understanding throughout the construction period."