Roxborough Self Build, Colchester UK

Five houses have been built on under-used land in Marks Tey nr Colchester. Despite being externally very similar, they have all been individually designed, with differing internal layouts to suit the specific needs of the households, who were selected on the basis that at least one family member should have a disability with a future requirement for a wheelchair.

Colchester Borough Council gave strong backing for the scheme, and supported the core group in its early days, calling together the professionals required to enable the project to happen. Shaftesbury Housing Association agreed to develop the scheme. Architype designed the houses and worked closely with the future occupiers to ensure that the layouts met their requirements.

Construction methods were chosen to enable people with few previous buuilding skills to construct the houses safely. In the event the group worked extremely efficiently to produce the bungalows, putting in 21 hours a week under the direct supervision of an experienced site manager. A training programme was set up to supplement the self build workforce with trainees.

The scheme as built met Housing Corporation standards for wheelchair housing, including level and ramped access, carports and covered access routes. Timber frame construction with an environmentally friendly specification was used to make the project safe and relatively easy to construct, and space heating bills are about £50 / annum, making these house very economical to live in.

article by Robin Hillier

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