St Georges Court

Project Background

St Georges Court in Wrotham, Kent had been the subject of community and developer interest for nearly a decade, with original plans put in place back in 2014, when Circle Housing Russet Homes decided the site would benefit from demolition of the existing sheltered housing scheme to make way for affordable housing provision to better serve the local area. Delays in the project due to community dissatisfaction at the proposals, refusal of residents to relocate and a number of rejected planning applications, meant that the site has been in limbo for a number of years, only recently obtaining planning permission for an iteration of the scheme which was deemed to suit the needs of the area.
Development of the site was further complicated by the purported existence of a restrictive covenant, wherein the historic landowner had gifted the site to the village to be held for the housing needs of the elderly. This matter was only resolved when the descendants of this generous individual spoke publicly about the wishes of their ancestor, and acknowledged the changing needs of the populace.
The version of the fully affordable scheme finally approved will bring 38 high quality homes split between 12 maisonette flats with individual ground level access and 26 houses. The design utilises the local architectural vernacular but reinterprets this in a contemporary style and celebrates the character of the village which has been designated as a part of an area of outstanding natural beauty.
With demolition works completed in Autumn 2023, the site is now ready for development of new housing provision to commence in early 2024.

Scope of Works

Following an extremely competitive tender process, Goody Demolition were awarded the contract to undertake the demolition and enabling works at the former assisted living site. The contract was procured in good time prior to the planned commencement date for practical works, due to the extensive nature of the pre-start requirements. The project had gone through many planned iterations since being vacated, and the planning approval finally granted was subject to a number of pre-commencement conditions. GDL were contracted to assume the role of Principal Contractor, and as a part of this project inherited responsibility for satisfying the planning conditions – this involved production of a Demolition Environmental Management Plan and Logistics Plan, which following consultation with, and approval from, the Principal Designer were submitting to the Local Planning Authority in a timely manner, and granted discharge to allow our works to commence.
Once on site, our scope of works included setting up exclusion zones, barriers and signage; establishment and maintenance of welfare, accommodation and suitable meeting facilities; management of service disconnections, terminations and diversions and setting up of temporary supplies required for the works; installation of 6no. bird boxes and 5no. bat boxes as per ecologists recommendation as well as designated monitoring at specified stages of the works; tree/root protection measures and tree removal/pruning as required; waste management; asbestos removal works (carried out by a specialist licensed subcontractor); internal soft strip; structural demolition to designated blocks of flats; clearance of site and  placement of concrete blocks at entrances upon completion to ensure site was secure to prevent trespass prior to commencement of construction activities.