Creveul Court

Situated in the town centre of Alexandria in the Vale of Leven, the development is West Dunbartonshire Council’s first project to incorporate Dementia Friendly Design.

The previous Creveul Court was a high priority area for regeneration, consisting of post war sub standard housing.

Following consultation it was decided to demolish the existing stock.  It was our ambition to reinstate the sense of community that had been present at Creveul Court many years before.

Our aim was to create a development that responded to the historic town centre context.

The massing of the flats reinforces the frontage to the main road and knits together the urban fabric.  The red brick is a nod to the adjacent red sandstone tenements.

Traditional tenement features have been reinterpreted, such as a modern take on blind windows.  The community garden sits to the rear of the flatted block and is at the heart of the development.

All three blocks have a visual connection to the community garden, helping to create a sense of community and security.  Many studies have highlighted that gardening is a very effective way of tackling loneliness and social isolation.  Using Community Benefit funding, we engaged with the Leamy Foundation, a local community gardening group to maintain the community orchard and develop a gardening programme with the tenants.

It is our priority to connect housing with positive health outcomes and to respond to the challenges of housing our ageing population.  Lift access to flats and level access within the bungalows ensures that properties are future proofed, where tenants can remain in their homes for longer, as their circumstances change.

Site start coincided with West Dunbartonshire Council committing to the Dementia Framework.  It was decided that Creveul Court would become a dementia design pilot, due to its close proximity to the GP practice, the hospital and high street amenities.

Each floor within the close has its distinctive coloured:

• Doors
• Signage
• Tiles

The identifiable colours assists with orientation and reduce confusion.

To reduce energy bills and address fuel poverty Creveul Court has been designed to meet the Silver Active sustainability level, where homes incorporate:

• Solar Panels to generate renewable energy
• Water butts to capture and reuse rainwater

“We are already feeling a sense of community and we look forward to helping establish the community garden in the summer”