Leading Midland-based building services provider Birchall has been behind the successful launch of Britain’s greenest and most advanced extra care scheme.
The company, with offices in Newcastle-under- Lyme, London and Edinburgh, has enabled the elderly residents of the newly-opened £9million Parkwood residence in Telford to protect the planet as well as enjoy maximum care and comfort.

Birchall designed and installed all the mechanical and electrical systems for the 54 one-bed and two-bed apartment scheme managed by Wrekin Housing Trust scheme following a £1million contract with main contractor McPhillips (Wellington).

The success of the project has led to Birchall winning a further contract to provide a planned preventative and reactive maintenance service and repairs for the m&e systems, including rainwater harvesting, for the next three years with the opportunity of a two-year extension.

The four-storey property, which has a full-height glass-roofed atrium which produces plenty of natural light, benefits from mains water and water heating energy saving services fitted by the company.

These include a harvesting system that stores rainwater in underground tanks before being circulated to toilet cisterns, and four solar roof panels that preheat the cold water feed to the boiler house for the domestic hot and cold water system.

Birchall also fitted an energy-saving VRF (variable refrigerant flow) air conditioning system in the care home's common areas for delivering comfort cooling when needed, as well as a natural gas service to a low temperature hot water heating system.

It installed supply and extract ventilation, above ground drainage, a sprinkler system, dry risers and sanitaryware, while BEC (Building Environment Controls) fitted all controls for the HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) systems.

Aimed primarily at the over 60s and those aged 50 to 59 with specific care needs, the 37 two-bed and 17 one-bed wheelchair accessible apartments each have a fully fitted kitchen with built-in oven, hob, extractor fan and fridge-freezer, as well as a shower room with non-slip flooring and emergency alarms.

The common amenities include a shop, keep fit and well being studio, hairdressers, hobbies room and restaurant.

'We were delighted to have fitted out one of Britain's most energy efficient extra care schemes in association with McPhillips, having previously worked together on a number of projects including an 80-bed care home in Shrewsbury,' said Ian Birchall, Birchall director.

'We are also pleased it has led to a maintenance contract with the housing trust. We are looking forward to assisting the building management team with all statutory inspections and ensuring all residents enjoy 24-hour support,' he added. 'This project provides a perfect example of the low-energy low-carbon life cycle service that we can offer clients.'