New Inspirational Achievement: Grace House, a blueprint for inclusive and affordable over 55s living
We are delighted to share our newest Inspirational Achievement feature, Grace House. Grace House is an award-winning, inclusively designed affordable housing scheme in St John’s Wood, Westminster which provides among the highest quality affordable homes for over 55s in the capital.
Located near Lord’s Cricket Ground, Grace House offers 170 accessible apartments, with 153 being affordable and 17 available for private rent. Developed by Central & Cecil Housing Trust (C&C), part of Aster Group, along with Regal London, Ryder Architecture, and Motionspot, the building features communal areas and gardens across 13 floors.
Opened in August 2022, Grace House replaced the outdated 205-unit Dora House, built in 1970, which required significant investment to meet modern standards.
In 2014, C&C involved 30 Dora House residents in a co-design process with Ryder and Motionspot’s inclusive designers to create Grace House. Residents visited accessible spaces for inspiration and attended monthly sessions with a C&C Director. An independent ‘Resident Friend’ and a focus group provided feedback on a show bathroom.
The process emphasised accessible design, such as level thresholds, wide doorways, clear signage and power-assisted doors. Residents were enthusiastic, naming the building ‘Grace House’ and expressing a desire to stay in their community. The design aimed to support independent living with adaptable, elegant, and accessible features.
Read on to learn more and discover the key takeaways from the partnership approach deployed at Grace House.
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For more information on how to get featured, please email info@housinglin.org.uk.