Welbeck Close is a small supported housing development which provides five flexible and adaptable bungalow properties for residents with autism and learning disabilities. A sixth bungalow provides staff sleeping accommodation and office space as well communal space for residents to meet. The staff bungalow is placed at the entrance to the site grouping, providing secure overseeing of visitors as well as the residents’ homes and shared communal gardens. The site was formerly a small unused area of land adjacent to Welbeck Road, which had been used for fly-tipping.

Careful attention has been paid to ensuring that the residents avoid any undue stress from noise, which can sometimes be challenging for residents with autism. For this reason the properties have been sited away from the road towards the quietest part of the site and the bungalows are all detached to avoid noise transfer between properties. Providing suitable outdoor spaces for exercise and participation in gardening also helps to ensure that residents can engage in activity which helps to reduce the risk of anxiety.

The bungalows use traditional domestic materials (brick, render and boarding), in a contemporary manner. The design of the homes and external areas has evolved to respond directly to the needs of the users and the inclusion of a variety of outdoor spaces with different characters, levels of privacy and functions helps to create a tranquil residential setting. The garden spaces have proved a real success with one resident, who has gained his City and Guilds in Horticulture, taking great pride in the maintenance and improvement of the space.

Providing a high standard of accommodation for residents with Autism & learning difficulties:
• Detached Bungalows avoid noise transmission, creating a tranquil environment for residents
• Each Bungalow is fully compliant with the Habinteg wheelchair design guide
• The living room & kitchen/dining areas open onto a private patio area (shown in yellow)
• The main bedroom is to the rear, quieter side of the property
• The front of the bungalow looks onto the shared garden areas, so that residents can choose whether to avail of the communal space