A new, exemplary extra care scheme comprising forty self-contained flats and communal facilities for the Cambridge Housing Association who intend to develop the scheme as a ‘resource hub’ by supplying hot meals to local lunch clubs and to older people in their own homes. Carers will also use the facilities as their base and for training activities. Each resident has their own self-contained flat that has a separate bedroom, lounge kitchen area and shower room. The team of staff provide care and support 24 hours a day. The communal facilities include lounges, a restaurant, a sensory courtyard garden, multi-purpose rooms for treatment, arts and crafts, exercise, hearing services and lifelong learning opportunities.

The development achieved the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5, achieving 100% energy efficiency and features many unique innovations rarely seen together on extra-care schemes including:

• Biomass boiler fuelled by locally-sourced wood pellets;
• Photovoltaic cells on the roof generating electricity to run the building, saving each flat £60 a year in electricity bills;
• Controlled solar gain and shading through design;
• Smart meters in each flat giving residents control over their energy consumption;
• Greywater recycling systems in each flat;
• Highly insulated envelope Kingspan Tek system.

Richard Newcombe Court was awarded the title of Development of the Year Award by Sustain Magazine.  It was also shortlisted in two categories of the prestigious RICS Project of the Year both for Design and Innovation and for Community Benefit.