Project Description
Grebe Gardens (Burgh House Residential Care Home)
Grebe Gardens is a terrace of seven fully wheelchair-accessible, sustainable homes for independent seniors, adjacent to Burgh House care home, with warden-controlled living, on-call support, and a community focus around a shared garden.
We are proud to have delivered another successful project for Burgh House Residential Care Home in Burgh Castle, with whom we enjoy a longstanding relationship. Serving as a trusted partnering consultant, we continue to provide architectural services that support their mission of creating exemplary environments for later-life care.
The project delivers inclusive, fully wheelchair-accessible homes for seniors seeking independence without isolation. It bridges the gap between independent living and full-time care, guided by the Habinteg Accessible Homes Independent Lives recommendations. Each of the seven two-bedroom homes were designed to the highest standard, with wide circulation zones and staircases suitable for stairlifts—offering dignified, adaptable living for later life.
Set in a peaceful rural location beside the family-run Burgh House residential care home, the development forms part of a supportive care community. All subcontractors were locally based, reinforcing community ties through local employment and investment. The site includes a shared south-facing garden, connected via an accessible walkway, which has become the heart of daily life—hosting live music, activities, and safe social interaction.
Sustainability is integral: all homes feature photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps, and battery storage. The terraced form and compact footprint maximise energy efficiency while preserving open space.
Attention to detail is evident in the warm, domestic character of materials and the generous use of natural daylight, which plays a therapeutic role for residents with dementia.
The development addresses a critical local housing shortfall for seniors. As the Mayor of Great Yarmouth remarked during the grand opening, “this development is setting an example for the region.” Following its success, Burgh House is now investing in a second phase of seven one- and two-bedroom flats, designed to the same principles, recently approved by the Local Planning Authority.
