Dora Matthews House Coleford, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

The site is steeply sloping in a prominent location in the town. The main building is arranged over 3 stories around a private courtyard and the apartments are well proportioned with views over the town and across the internal street. Residents also have access to a communal lounge, cinema room, reminiscence room, and activities room. A guest en-suite bedroom is available to visitors to use for a small charge.

This is the largest development in Coleford for several years and planning was sensitive. It is adjacent to Listed buildings, has some archaeological interest and there are several mature trees. The design responds to a local aesthetic with gabled intersecting blocks under pitched roofs.

Promoting Independent Living

The Coleford Area Partnership had identified that with the demise of on-site wardens in sheltered schemes many local people were receiving one to one 'Care in the Community', a very expensive way of providing help to those in need. The alternative of a Care Home could not address the needs of a couple.

Dora Matthews House is a superb example of high quality housing with care which provides choice, independence and dignity for all residents. Furthermore it caters for couples where at least one person requires care, either from their partner or a care provider, a vital aspect for extending and improving people's lives in their later years. This provision has also given local residents the confidence to release their current accommodation onto the open market which, in turn, is helping others to climb on the property ladder.

A key part of the development is a wellbeing centre and 'Sixteen' the community café which is situated on the street frontage, linked to the accommodation by an enclosed bridge sheltering a public courtyard with outdoor seating. This focal point for residents is where they can always go to socialise and meet friends be it in the café, activities centre or laundry.