Building firm Anwyl Partnerships is using alternative methods of construction to speed up work on an £8.5m development for the elderly in Liverpool city region. Tony McDonough reports
Builder Anwyl Partnerships has started work on an £8.5m extra care development in Wirral and is using alternative techniques to speed up the project.
In partnership with housing provider Magenta Living, Anwyl is created 53 apartments on Greenheys Road in Wallasey. The scheme is aimed at filling the gap in provision for homes for more elderly people who want to live indecently but with extra support.
Two existing buildings at the 1.2-acre site have been demolished to make way for the apartments, which include 45 one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units, as well as car parking and landscaping. It is due for completion and handover in March 2023.
Anwyl is utilising a kit approach, comprising panels formed from lightweight metal framing components which are assembled on site prior to the concrete floor being cast in situ.
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Simon Rose, construction director at Anwyl Partnerships, explained: “The key benefits in using this type of system when compared to traditional masonry construction are the timescales involved in achieving water tightness of the building.
“A typical three-storey apartment block of 50 units built traditionally would take in the region of 35 weeks to achieve roof on stage, compared to almost half that for this lightweight steel frame option.
“For us as a business, it’s important we continue to explore new and alternative construction methods and technology and it was an Anwyl decision on this project to pilot a new way of building to guarantee completion within the contracted timescales.”
According to the common, using this system requires no additional training. The specialist subcontractor designs, fabricates and erects the panel system on top of the ground floor structural deck formed on site. Installation of the frame is now underway.
“This is a first for us and as a business will be monitoring progress closely with the aim of utilising and replicating this approach across other Anwyl Partnerships sites,” added Simon.
Justine Gore, development director at Magenta Living, also said: “Anwyl has an innovative approach to delivering new homes. In particular the off-site assembly panelised framework trial at the Greenheys Road Extra Care project.
“We welcome this approach as Magenta Living is committed to providing at least 25% of its 1,000 new homes programme to modern methods of construction. We look forward to welcoming our customers into their new homes and providing a care service tailored to meet their needs.”