The project at Friary Outer is a mixed use regeneration development comprising residential and a 414 bay-multi-storey long stay car park.
The residential element comprises of 60 affordable homes, 54 of which will be supported accommodation, on behalf of Bromford, a provider of affordable homes. Bromford will own and manage the supported apartments and look after the affordable homes element of the scheme. The housing units will be completed with high standard heat and noise insulation.
The contract also involves increasing the current 210 car parking facility to a 400-bay-multi-storey, long-stay car park, to be owned and managed by Lichfield District Council.
The development has been designed to sit within the natural space next to the Festival Gardens, creating a community-based living space.
The sheltered accommodation will replace the existing ground level council car park with new public toilets set directly between the town centre, the new university development, and the historical conservation area of Festival Gardens.
A significant tree protection plan has been put into operation prior to the demolition of the existing public toilets, followed by the diversion of several existing utility supplies crossing the site. The water culvert has been upgraded to reduce the current risk of flooding to nearby residential and business properties.
The entire site is situated over land that has been continuously developed over hundreds of years. Engineering solutions of piling and lightweight steel framing for the flats, along with pre-cast concrete units for all the floors have been adopted in order to overcome the variable load supporting conditions of the part-fill, partly peat, and partly sandstone ground beneath.
Works are expected to be completed in early 2013.