Cornamona Court, Ballyfermot, Dublin, is an Intergenerational and Age Friendly scheme with 61 homes.

Description

The cleared brownfield site is located on Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, and previously accommodated a single storey older persons housing scheme that due to its condition was demolished in 2007. It is a well located site in an established neighbourhood, close to the church, local schools as well as Ballyfermot’s busy main street with shops, library, sports and community buildings. A new older person’s scheme was initially designed for the site in 2006-8, but due to the economic downturn nationally, the project was shelved in early 2009.

When the council secured funding again in 2017, it was identified that the waiting list demonstrated a need for family housing, and that one in three homes in the area were occupied by a single older person in a two or three bedroom house. This understanding informed a mixed brief for 61 intergenerational social homes, including 28 houses and duplexes for families, and 33 older person apartments. The homes are arranged around a generous landscaped courtyard garden, with family homes at ground level having direct access to play areas, and older person apartments above.

The older person apartments incorporate UD and Age Friendly design features which will enable independent living for as long as possible. Some wheelchair liveable apartments are also included. The shared courtyard garden is fully accessible, as is the community space which includes a community room, offices, kitchenette and WCs.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the scheme goes beyond the delivery of new homes; it offers older people living in the area the chance to right size into a new universally designed and Age Friendly apartment, which in turn frees up more family homes in the area. There are also social benefits to having a mix of tenants in a development.

Who is it aimed at

The right sizing initiative is aimed at older tenants who right size, whether from a DCC home, or a private home which no longer meets their needs. Rightsizing to Cornamona Court gives the tenants a new universally designed and age friendly apartment and access to the DCC Liaison Officer and housing maintenance services, allowing them to live independently for longer.

3 Steps critical to success

1. An understanding of the housing need in Ballyfermot and its evolving demographics, in addition to consultations with stakeholders and the local community, in particular older people and people with additional needs, were critical to informing the intergenerational brief with a focus on UD and Age Friendly design, which in turn supports right sizing.

   For example, some wheelchair liveable homes with a second bedroom were included in the brief which has allowed an older tenant with 24hr care needs move from a hospital setting into their own home, the second bedroom caters for overnight care supporting their independence.

2. The inclusion of Age Friendly, UD and UD+ features in the design of the scheme are critical in enabling independent living for as long as possible. The scheme:
   – is well-connected to local amenities close to the church, local schools as well as Ballyfermot’s busy main street with shops, library, sports and community buildings
   – is easy to approach and enter; secure basement carpark with provision for parking of adapted vehicles, lift access to all upper floor units, common stairs are Part M compliant. Older person homes are accessed from shared deck access walkways. Entrances are sheltered and walkways generously proportioned with a minimum width of 1800mm.
   – is connected to the outdoors; older person homes overlook sheltered and secure landscaped courtyard with family homes located at courtyard level below.
   – is easy to move about in; entrance doorways with min clear width of 1000m, wide hallways of circa 1200-1500mm with power points. Circa.1800-2400mm turning circle in all habitable rooms. Kitchens typically arranged in a ‘U’ shape with the door outside the kitchen area and 1800mm between opposing work surfaces.
   – has accessible and adaptable toilets and bathrooms immediately adjacent to main bedroom
   – The wheelchair liveable units are provided with wider doors throughout and with a second smaller bedroom to allow a carer/visitor to stay
   – has easy to use fittings and fixtures
   – is energy and cost efficient, ensuring utility bills are kept to a minimum
   – has good security systems, entry points are fob accessed
   – has infrastructure for technology and assistive technology
3. As the scheme was subject to the Part 8 Planning process, community buy-in and political support were critical to the delivery of the project. The inclusion of the community facility which provides a social space for the older people living in Cornamona Court and the wider community was vital to community support.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Changing the original brief from 100% older persons housing to an intergeneration scheme was a significant political challenge. The granular understanding of the needs and demographics of the Ballyfermot area had to be communicated in a clear and open manner to maintain community support.
2. The site was a brownfield site with a high water table and an existing foul sewer which was a challenge especially as the brief included a basement carpark.

   The efficiency of the scheme hinges on stacking 1-bed older persons apartments at the upper levels over three bed family duplex at ground floor. Planning the layouts to both stack and be efficient was a significant design challenge.

3. During the construction phase the Covid lockdowns were a significant challenge that led to a prolonged build time, which was further hampered by the supply /inflation issues that followed the lockdowns.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. The scheme supports right sizing of older tenants from larger family homes which they can no longer manage and maintain. An older person in a large family home may find that utility bills are too high, the home may be in need of costly upgrades, and accessibility in the home may be hampered by a steep staircase and an unsuitable bathroom. All these difficulties are addressed in a UD and Age Friendly home.
2. Providing older people in the community with the option to right size has increased the number of family homes available to families on the DCC housing waiting list in the Ballyfermot area.
3. Tenants who right size, whether from a DCC home, or private home, have access to the DCC Liaison Officer and housing maintenance services, allowing them to live independently for longer. The Liason Officer service offers practical support to the older person such as assisting in making appointments, ensuring heating is on and utilities are paid. The new homes are also secure and safe with fob access at entry points.

   ‘They’re not just homes, they’re a huge asset to the community. Everyone benefits. It’s integrated, there’s families, senior citizens, single people’. – Cllr Daithí Doolan (Irish Independent 2nd June 2023)