Westgarth care home, is a purpose built respite facility based in Elland, West Yorkshire. Prior to the works carried out by Jupiter Construction, Westgarth House was in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect. Jupiter Construction were appointed to revive the building and develop it into a respite centre for adults with learning difficulties across Calderdale.
The project consisted of a refurbishment of the existing building, which involved: fully stripping the roof, re insulating and replacing the roof, structural alterations, fire protection works, a full electrical upgrade of the building, plastering works, internal decorations, flooring works, upgrading the heating system, lightning protection and window replacement work. Alongside this extensive refurbishment, there was also the construction of the new build which now homes the individual rooms for those visiting the respite facility. The new facilities included specially adapted wet rooms, adjustable baths and custom designed fire doors which allowed for hoists and associated tracking to be used. Following the refurbishment of the existing building and the creation of the new building, the last part of the works was to carefully join the buildings together to create ease and flow for the end user.
Although Westgarth house is not a listed property, Jupiter were instructed to ensure that the property fit with the conservative look of the existing buildings in the area. Furthermore, the new build, although modern, had to look and feel like it was part of the existing environment, which is why a cedar barrel roof was chose. Not only does the new build offer a pleasing aesthetic, it also meets the planning conditions and shows an example of how improving the environment of the working area can be achieved. Furthermore, the Jupiter team ensured that the barrel roof was fit for purpose for its lifespan, by advising the Client to have a man safe system installed, so that future maintenance work can be carried out safely.
Every construction project faces challenges and this project was no exception. The project took place during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the midst of Brexit, which inevitably meant usual construction processes and activities became a lot more complicated and tasks such as ordering materials, became a lot more challenging due to the long lead times and rising costs. However, the Jupiter team were able to carry out value engineering to ensure the project could be delivered on time and within cost. Whilst remodelling the main house, there were numerous structural issues identified, fortunately the vast experience of the Jupiter team, meant the Client could be advised on the best course of action. On day one of the project, the team were also met with a partially flooded house, which despite creating a less than ideal start to the project, the team dug in and worked hard to ensure the works could carry on as normal.
The location of the project meant that coordination, management and communication were all key to delivering the project both on time and safely. The local school is situated just under 220 yards away from the care home, which meant all deliveries to site were carefully scheduled to minimise the disruption to the school users and wider local community. A full hoarding was also erected around the site boundary to protect unauthorised persons from the work activities. One of the other issues faced by Jupiter Construction, was the narrow entrance into site, which resulted in the welfare and office facilities having to be lifted into site by crane, this was done whilst still maintaining a high level of safety for both those onsite and those impacted by the works in the neighbouring areas. Due to the size and weight of the new drainage required, this was also delivered into site via crane. The use of a crane is not unfamiliar in the construction world, but on this project the space onsite was very limited and with the high risk to those in the surrounding areas, it was critical that this operation took place in a safe and timely manner. Difficult operations onsite need well executed and thought out planning to ensure they are delivered as intended with no harm caused, something that Jupiter are proud to have been able to achieve.
The end result is a true testament to the Jupiter team and all involved. The end user are delighted with their new facilities which are modern and fit for purpose.
