Following an approach from Gloucester City Homes to source a building capable of conversion, Aqua Construction is pleased to have secured the vacant Hewmar House, on London Road, Gloucester. Thanks to Simon McKeag and his team at Ash Chartered Surveyors for their assistance.

A former office building, Gloucester City Council assisted with determining the change of use planning application to repurpose Hewmar House into an 8-bedroom supported housing development for young people.

Working closely with Quattro Architects and Gloucester Building Control on the technical detail of the works, the conversion will create homes and opportunities for young, homeless people.

With investment from Homes England, and in partnership with Gloucester City Council, Gloucester City Homes secured £1.34 million funding from the Single Homeless Accommodation Programme (SHAP).

The conversion works include structural repairs, re-roofing, external wall insulation and render, new heating, electric, solar panels, new plasterwork, and decoration throughout and the forming of a communal kitchen, communal lounge, staff office and 8 bedrooms with shower rooms.

Work commenced 4 weeks ago to clear the site and in parallel carry out a soft stripping of the interior of the building. Scaffold has just been erected with the stripping of the roof due to commence shortly. Thanks to a helpful neighbour to allow scaffold to be erected on their property to undertake some of the works.

In support of the project, Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, said: “GCH has a strong proven track record of delivery of high-quality homes in Gloucester and successfully manage several cohort-specific schemes. They hold an important partnership with the local authority, providing properties and support to tackle homelessness, and this already includes schemes to support homeless young people and rough sleepers.”

Aqua is excited about working in partnership with GCH on such a worthy project.

Works is scheduled to be completed in November 2024.