Brooke Mead is the first extra care scheme to be built and managed by Brighton & Hove City Council, designed to provide housing for older people and those living with dementia in a city centre location.

With a growing number of older people in the city and pressure on adult social care budgets, the scheme is located in Central Brighton within existing local communities. It will help prevent or delay people needing more expensive residential care as well as providing high quality homes within a dedicated community for its residents.

Modelled on a mansion block, the building has a communal entrance and reception at ground floor, opening onto a planted garden. Well-lit shared circulation leads to the accommodation on the first floor. Dementia friendly design has been used throughout to aid those with sensory, mobility or cognitive impairments, to provide independent and secure living for people who are likely to become more vulnerable in time.

The scheme provides a mix of 1 bed and 2 bed apartments, 10% of the units are fully wheelchair accessible and all units have been designed to HAPPI principles and is set to achieve BREEAM Very Good rating. FCBStudios took the scheme to planning before handing it over to Lee Evans Partnership.

Read 'Ready for Aging?' by Rachel Sayers