Plans have been unveiled to revamp a nursing and dementia care home in Wanstead in north east London.
Once threatened with closure; The Chestnuts was taken over by Westgate Health five years ago and planning permission has finally been granted to carry out a major redevelopment of the building.
Designed by Alexander Sedgley Architects; the new facility will retain the front facade with additions of fully-accessible bedrooms, en-suite wetrooms, and various shared amenity spaces, including a secure outdoor courtyard and an internal circular pathway.
It is hoped the redevelopment will satisfy inspectors from the Care Quality Commission who recently said some rooms in the building were too small, did not have en-suite bathrooms, and did not have adequate daylight.
The new building will be arranged over five floors with the basement containing all of the non-living auxiliary spaces, accessed by two stairs and two lifts.
The lower-ground floor, although primarily a dementia care floor, also includes the main entrance area.
And a secure courtyard will also be created with raised beds which will be at a height that allows residents to join in gardening activities.
The upper ground floor is again primarily a dementia care floor built on a continuous corridor around the secure courtyard.
