Grand designs for Worksop's Larwood House in £3million renovation project

Operated by Bassetlaw District Council, the independent living centres are a collection of self-contained apartments and flats that specifically cater for older residents.

Last year, the Council successfully opened Priory Court in Worksop and is about to embark on a refurbishment project that will bring all of its centres up to a similar standard.

This will begin with Larwood House which is currently made up of 32 bedsits and a number of communal rooms and shared facilities.

The project will transform the building into a collection of ‘bright, modern, attractive and welcoming homes that will enhance communal living and social interaction’.

Councillor Steve Scotthorne, cabinet member for Housing at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “This is another exciting project that will improve the lives of our older tenants.

“We are all extremely proud of the standard of living that we are able to offer residents at Priory Court and the state of the art facilities that are provided there.

"It is our ambition to set this standard across all of our Independent Living Centres so that we can offer older tenants with safe, comfortable and modern homes in a community setting.”

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The £3million Larwood project will be led by specialist design and build company Fortem.

James Taylor, contracts manager at the company, said: "The designs have been focused on providing sustainable, high quality accommodation by modernising an existing building and we can’t wait to welcome residents back to their new homes.”

New features will include 18 self-contained one-bedroomed apartments with fully-accessible wet rooms and either a private patio or Juliet balcony.

Communal spaces including a lounge, kitchen and accessible landscaped gardens, a store for personal mobility scooters, a drying room and a treatment room for visiting mobile hairdressers.

All existing residents will be assisted to move into the Council’s other independent living centres or alternative accommodation while the work is taking place.

They will also be offered the opportunity to return to Larwood House following the renovation, which will begin this summer and take around 12 to 15 months to complete.

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