Fortune Place

How do we support independent
living for older people?

Q Learning from Fortune Place

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FOREWORD

We are seeing an ageing population and increasing prevalence of
dementia and social isolation in later life. In a climate of austerity across
public services and growing pressure on health and social care provision,
these factors presented an opportunity for Castle Rock Edinvar, together
with colleagues at Places Development, to consider a refreshed approach
to the development of affordable housing for independent living for older
people.

In 2012, as a result of the demolition of the St Barnabas sheltered housing
development and the Craigour care home in Edinburgh, we had a blank
canvas on which to consider and develop our response. Bringing together
a multi-disciplinary team including architects Smith Scott Mullan Associates,
informed by research and a desire to adopt a preventative approach,
our shared vision was to create a new blue print for affordable homes for
older people. A home which they would be proud of, in a welcoming and
caring place designed with ageing in mind, and which still felt modern,
connected and active, reflecting the diversity of potential residents.

Securing funding to fulfil our vision was essential. Our thanks to the City of
Edinburgh Council who, on behalf of the Scottish Government, provided
Housing Association Grant to build the new homes. Innovation to test
an affordable Wi-Fi solution to each household was supported by a
Demonstrating Digital Grant from the Scottish Government, and would
not have been possible without it. Recognising that for a development to
promote physical and mental well-being it needs more than well designed
and well-built housing, it also needs a sense of community, resources were
kindly secured from the Big Lottery Fund to develop our approaches.

Without our collaborative approach and associated funding Fortune Place
would not be the award winning, vivacious community it is now.

Heather Macnaughton

Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association
Part of the Places for People Group

Eugene Mullan

Smith Scott Mullan Associates

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Our starting point was to examine the key messages published in emerging
N strategies and research to draw out the issues relating to older people that
L) AAK need to be addressed.

In 2009 HAPPI published Housing our Ageing Population and identified
key design elements which should be emphasised when developing new
homes for older people. In 2011 the Scottish Government and COSLA
published Age Home and Community: A Strategy for Housing for Scotland’s
Older People which advocated policies to enable people to remain at
home independently for as long as possible and encouraged mobility
in the housing system. Increasing focus was being placed on the rising
prevalence of dementia with Dementia Services Development Centre
based at Stirling University promoting for improvements in design and
understanding. There was also a growing awareness of the importance of
direct sunlight exposure for Vitamin D to aid bone density in later life and
to be outdoors connected to a nature rich green environment to improve
health and wellbeing outcomes. Age UK identified that social isolation and
loneliness was seen by many as one of the largest health concerns leading
to depression, obesity and premature death and to combat this there was
a need to build cohesive, resilient and supportive communities. The Scottish
Household Survey identified that older people living in areas of deprivation
and in social housing are most likely to be materially deprived and digitally
excluded.

So, in developing Fortune Place and looking to influence the future of
affordable housing for older people, we sought to answer how we would:

Q. design homes with ageing in mind
Q. encourage people to go outside
Q. design shared spaces for an ageing community
Q. promote greater social interaction and prevent loneliness
Q. maximise income in later life and prevent poverty
Q. increase digital participation
Q. implement co-production

Resource Research was appointed in 2017 to hear from residents and
other stakeholders about their experiences. This publication shows how we
answered these questions and the lessons learned and will hopefully go
some way to helping create more new homes to be proud of.

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“This is a nice new

place. It’s central
for everything
and I’ve got

”good neighbours.

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Q How do we design homes
with ageing in mind?

What We Did What We Learnt

We sought to provide a home for life. People are very happy living at Fortune Place, with 95% of
people surveyed say they have no future plans to move.
The development and homes were future proofed by using
dementia friendly principles such as open plan layouts and Our future proofing design elements are not being used
glass panelling to increase visibility and aid memory, and by all residents at the moment, but are appreciated and
contrasting flooring to prevent accidents. know they will be of value in the future. Support workers
have stated that those they support are happy in the
There are two bedrooms in most homes so that family, development, and are sufficiently supported and do not
friends and carers could be welcomed to stay. wish to move.

Bathrooms are modern and spacious which enables Both residents and support workers are satisfied with the
supported care, and future adaptations, if needed. Jack layout of the flats, especially the bathrooms, as it helps
and Jill doors are included and positioned in such a way them to assist the people they care for.
that there is visibility from the bed that helps orientation.

Kitchen and living spaces are open, light and spacious.

Open plan layout makes orientation easy. Glazed doors to en-suite bathrooms create a visual 7
connection.

“We have a wee

garden and really

”love pottering in

that.

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Q How do we encourage
people to go outside?

What We Did What We Learnt

We prioritised private outdoor space for each home. The private outdoor space was a real design success.
People say it is a ‘must have’ and that they ‘love it’. Almost
A useable balcony or private garden space, large enough everyone with private outdoor space uses it at least once
for a small table and chairs and other small garden items, a week, and 34% use it daily.
is part of as many homes as possible. By providing private
outdoor space and large windows, we brought the outside The few who do not have this space notice its absence so
into the home. every effort needs to be made to provide this space for
everyone.
The detailed design of the balconies strikes a careful
balance between creating a comfortable space protected
from the weather and providing residents with great views
of the shared gardens and the adjacent Gilmerton Park.

As well as private space we created secure communal
landscaped gardens to encourage movement. Seating
has been introduced as well as access to an outside toilet
to increase confidence in using the space.

Balconies are popular and well used. Large windows help bring the outside in. 9

“I am much

happier and feel

”so much safer.

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Q How do we design shared
spaces for an ageing
community?

What We Did What We Learnt

Shared spaces were designed with safety, security and People are very happy with the safety and security at
accessibility in mind. Fortune Place.

In the attractive communal garden, circular pathways The landscaped gardens are used by a fifth of households
connect spaces and landscaping helps create visible every week. Some people do not use the shared gardens
boundaries. We also designed a modern indoor space at all but the majority appreciate having an attractive
called the Garden Room used for socialising, activities and garden to look out on, especially when they are ill or house-
meetings. bound.

Communal spaces are future proofed and dementia The Garden Room is recognised as a valuable and
friendly with wide communal stairways (to accommodate beautiful space. However, the space does not always feel
future stair lifts) and storage space for buggies and other fully ‘owned’ by the residents as support workers have had
mobility aids. Entrance doors are differentiated through the use of it also.
building form and colour, and glass panels used throughout
the development to help people with orientation and People would like more storage in communal areas, which
visibility. could store larger personal items and not just mobility aids.

Future proofed communal stairs have been designed to Dinstinctive entrances and coloured front doors help 11
allow the addition of a stair lift. residents to recognise their home.

“I just love the
place, love

seeing and

meeting all these

people. I just

didn’t have that

before. ”

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Q How do we promote
greater social interation
and prevent loneliness?

What We Did What We Learnt

Social engagement was a key objective of Fortune Place Living at Fortune Place made people feel less lonely with
with a dedicated temporary member of staff, a Community almost half of residents saying they now feel more socially
Capacity Builder, who developed neighbourliness within connected than before, improving their quality of life.
the new community, and connected new residents to
local facilities and activities. The concierge role contributes significantly to the residents’
feeling of safety. The role is now seen as very important in
A Garden Room with kitchen and toilets was provided in any future development for older people.
the shared garden, this has large glazed screens so the
room can be opened to the garden. The Garden Room Fortune Place has provided the opportunity to get involved,
enabled a programme of social and wellbeing events, and three quarters of residents participated in at least one
bringing people together. The extensive use of glass gave event. People could get involved if they wanted to, or they
people a visible connection to each other, to see if they could just watch if they didn’t want to take part.
might want to get involved, or watch from a distance.

To facilitate greater interaction we employed a permanent
onsite concierge who is a constant, friendly face on the
development, carrying out health and safety and cleaning
tasks, alongside small DIY tasks for residents.

Creative group activities are held in the communal Tai Chi was introduced to promote health and wellbeing.
garden room.
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“Financially things

have improved
and this security is

”an advantage.

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Q How do we maximise
income in later life and
prevent poverty?

What We Did What We Learnt

We put in place a comprehensive range of measures to The communal heating and flat rate charge was a success
prevent poverty in later life. with 93% of residents satisfied with their heating system. All
residents noted that their properties are warm and they
Sustainable rent and service charges were set within the found that heating their home was affordable.
local housing allowance, alongside a communal heating
system and high insulation levels, to ensure utility bills are The impact of rare technical problems with the communal
reduced, predictable and manageable. heating system was a concern for people as all homes
could be affected.
All residents were offered advice on money, debt and
benefits to help maximise their income.

Communal services, including Wi-Fi, are included in the
rent to aid budgeting.

A Combined Heat and Power (CPH) Unit provides Outdoor space provides opportunities for interaction.
communal heating.
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“I can Skype my son

in Abu Dhabi and
my granddaughter
in Canada - I
couldn’t even
switch on a
computer before

”that.

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Q How do we
increase digital
participation?

What We Did What We Learnt

Cost, connectivity and capability are the three main The combination of communal Wi-Fi provision into homes
digital barriers older people need to overcome to become and digital skills classes saw internet access and usage at
digitally enabled. Fortune Place rise from an average of 2 devices per day,
to 60 and still growing.
Wi-Fi was installed in all homes from the outset and
categorised as communal landlord supply, at an affordable This is a significant result in a segment of the population
cost of no more than £1 per week. generally regarded as the most digitally excluded.

Classes were provided to build tenants’ digital confidence Certain insulation materials impacted on strength and
and skills and we monitored Wi-Fi use to measure progress reach of WiFi signal meaning boosters were required.
and adapt activities when needed.
Once connected, application choices and behaviours
were broadly in line with the general population. We have
seen a significant increase in the amount of data usage
over time.

Density of development enables Wi-Fi at scale. Digital skill classes were held for residents.

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“We would look to
establish guiding

frameworks for

co-production

next time

to enable

expectations to

be managed and
”
realised.

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Q How do we implement co-
production?

What We Did What We Learnt

Co-production was a key approach from the beginning Nearly everyone is satisfied with the communal garden,
of the design process and brought experts in housing, however, the perception is that it has taken a long time
architecture and academia together. and the process has been difficult for all involved.

Once onsite, the Community Capacity Builder led a co- While the co-production concept is believed to be good
production approach to designing the landscape for the practice, a ‘blank canvas’ approach should be avoided
communal gardens. Starting with a blank canvas, residents, as it raised expectations and led to disappointment when
staff and therapeutic experts worked together on the plans not all requests could be delivered.
and implementing features.
There had been an aspiration to establish a residents group
By the end of the landscaping project a number of to take forward future landscaping, and other activities. In
improvements were complete. A summerhouse, pergola, reality people did not want to spend their valuable time in
benches, patio and paths had been installed, along with this way and despite best efforts no residents came forward
additional planters and planting and a BBQ area. to sustain this.

Future co-production should be set with careful frames
of reference and management of expectations, with
basic practicalities such as clothes drying facilities and
accessibility for wheelchairs provided as standard.

The residents, staff and therapeutic experts co-produced The residents, staff and therapeutic experts worked 19
the communal landscaping. together on the plans.

Castle Rock Edinvar is
part of the Places for
People Group. Places
for People is an award-
winning placemaker.
With over 50 years’
experience, it is one of the
largest placemaking and
regeneration companies
in the UK. The Group owns
or manages over 195,000
homes, operates over
120 leisure facilities and
provides services to more
than 500,000 people.

Places for People is
committed to creating
places that work for
everyone. The Group
makes a long-term
commitment to its
communities and works to
provide what they need
to thrive – whether it is
new schools, shops, leisure
facilities, job opportunities,
access to learning and
training or specialist
support services.

It is a not-for-dividend
organisation with a strong
social purpose, using
commercial methods to
deliver social outcomes
and reinvesting any
financial surplus back
into its core business of
creating and maintaining
sustainable places.

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CONCLUSION

Ageing, with its challenges, should not be seen as a
negative but as a fantastic opportunity to embrace
later life with a positive approach.
Five years on Fortune Place is an award winning
established place within the community, providing
54 homes for independent living. It feels vibrant,
connected and very much a home where residents
are proud to invite friends and family. This has been
the result of continued effort and enthusiasm from our
staff, other professionals and residents to work together
to make this a success.
There is little doubt that customer satisfaction has
been improved and turnover reduced but most heart-
warming is the impact that good design and effective
place-making and management has made on the
quality of life residents are experiencing at Fortune
Place.
We are using the findings from this research to
determine our future developments for older people.
We will continue to be forward thinking and work
collaboratively with other organisations to design
quality places that will support older people to stay
independent in their homes for life.

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Published by Castle Rock Edinvar and Smith Scott Mullan Associates

Castle Rock Edinvar Smith Scott Mullan Associates
1 Hay Avenue 378 Leith Walk
Edinburgh Edinburgh
EH16 4RW EH7 4PE

www.castlerockedinvar.co.uk www.smith-scott-mullan.co.uk
0131 657 0600 0131 555 1414
[email protected] [email protected]

A Scottish Charity No. SC006035

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