Redevelopment of the Sunningdale complex on the Sandbrook Estate to replace the masionettes.
SUNNINGDALE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INTRODUCTION:
Sunningdale Community Development is the result of a dramatic transformation of a previously dilapidated, vandalised and unpopular housing site within the Sandbrook Estate in Wirral. Within a development that provides new and upgraded housing for the elderly, a range of communal and social facilities have been integrated to create a positive focus for those living both in the scheme and in the immediate neighbourhood. The important need for a new community and social focus was recognised from inception and the design seeks to naturally encourage a wide social interaction and participation, whilst at the same time ensuring an attractive and secure environment for the Sunningdale residents.
BACKGROUND:
Sandbrook Estate in Moreton, Wirral, dating from the 1960s consists primarily of six hundred dwellings of two and three storey residential accommodation and includes four fourteen-storey tower blocks, two schools and a small shopping precinct.
One of the tower blocks, the shopping percent and a three-storey maisonette block formed the basis of the one and a half acre site which was to become the Sunningdale Community Development. Blighted with many of the problems commonly associated with developments of this era, lack of identity, poor supervision,inadequate security and no control over vehicular or pedestrian movement, the site was prone to vandalism and general mis-use. The shopping precinct, with severe security problems and lack of passing trade, had several vacant tenancies. The maisonette block, raised off the ground on “pilotis” and with an impersonal external access staircase was insecure and unpopular. The tower block, with stark internal corridors, lack of communal facilities and poor environmental control was bleak and suffered constant misuse due to inadequate security provision.
The site generally lacked privacy and identity, was unsupervised and suffered regular abuse. Whilst much of the site lay barren and many of the facilities provided within the original development had been abandoned, two specific amenities had survived. The obvious need for a retail provision serving the immediate community had ensured that a small number of retail outlets had occupied two of the abandoned and dilapidated retail units,providing much needed community services including a creche and basic leisure/recreational facilities. These were to become essential ingredients in the creation of the Sunningdale Community Development.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRIEF Throughout the design process, Brock Carmichael Associates, BCA Landscape and Officers of Wirral Borough Council worked closely on all aspects of the scheme.
In an attempt to develop an appropriate design strategy and brief, a process of consultations with the local community was established. Research confirmed that in addition to the sheltered housing accommodation proposed for the site, a small retail provision should be retained and that the services provided by the Sandbrook Community Association should be extended through the provision of a new community centre serving the entire Sandbrook Estate.
Alternative strategies for the site were investigated, including refurbishment of the existing facilities. It quickly became apparent, however, that radical physical and environmental changes would be required. It was equally clear that for the long-term success of any new development to be ensured a firm and extensive commitment on behalf of Wirral Borough Council in respect of a high level management and maintenance programme would be an essential ingredient. It was thusdecided to .demolish the maisonette block, integrating it into a new development within which the essential support facilities for the management programme would be clearly established.
Thereafter, the object was to create a carefully sculptured and landscaped environment, responsive to the communal, social and security needs of the elderly, yet accessible in varying degrees to the surrounding community.
The development seeks to provide a powerful and identifiable focal point within the Sandbrook Estate, but one which does not alienate itself from the surrounding community. An important element in achieving this is the use of a strong architectural discipline throughout the scheme, a appropriate architectural identity. Moreover, a sensitive placing of the various elements within the development allows varying degrees of interaction with the wide community.
The new shopping arcade, which forms part of the secure boundary to the site, is independently accessible to Sandbrook Estate as a whole, while remaining convenient for Sunningdale residents.
The Community Centre reflects its opportunities for wider social interaction by forming a gatehouse to the site entrance equally accessible to both Sunningdale residents and local people. Designed to wheelchair standards, it contains a community hall, kitchen, office and stores, it also houses the Security Lodge. Deliberately moderate in size, it reflects the tradition of the village hall and provides for a range of social activities appropriate to its specific location.
These include dancing, keep tit, play groups, a creche, youth clubs, dinners for the elderly as well as private functions. Establishing the correct scale of community provision was extremely important in giving an appropriate reflection of the specific needs of the community. More extensive leisure facilities are available within the Sandbrook Estate in the two existing schools.
The sheltered housing development is concentrated within the secure site boundary. The existing tower block has been converted into sheltered housing for the ambulant elderly. This block, and two groups of new two-storey sheltered flats form three sides of a shared Garden Court.
Within the tower block, a communal lounge has been formed on the ground floor through careful manipulation of openings within the structural walls. With a seating capacity of fifty, it also has a kitchen and servery. The space actively used for casual social interaction, and games of cards, darts, bingo etc., a birthday party or a wedding anniversary are regular occurrences. An independent Residents association has been established to organise more formal activities, excursions and social events.
In addition, a free laundrette, a hairdressing salon and first aid room are provided.
It was the specific intention of the design team not to dictate the way in which communal facilities should be used, but rather to create a range of opportunities within the development for communal activities and social interaction. However, it was considered essential to carefully plan the towards alienation or isolation. A good example of this philosophy is the treatment of the Garden Court and its associated elements. High quality and familiar materials have been used throughout the development such as natural roof sites, subtle tones of brick, and stained timber to encourage a sense of pride in the environment created.
Strong patterns and boldly contrasting colours, have been exploited in the planting so that those residents with poor eyesight and those living on upper floors can appreciate the landscape. In contrast to the original development where the emphasis had been on simplicity, producing bland surfaces and buildings, there is a richness in the articulation of form and space and a variety of detail.
The plants chosen have the rich colours of nostalgic smells of a Victorian cottage garden: rhododendrons, mulberry, lavender, lilacs and herbaceous plants are placed in areas screened from wind by protective evergreen hedges.
A central focus of the garden Court is a sitting area formed with trellised screens and an open summer house over which many varieties of highly scented climbing roses and clematis will grow.
The detailing of the trellis-work and the summer house are reflected in the balconies and entrances in the adjacent flats, thus creating an integrated environment on a deliberately human scale. The arrangements of pedestrian paths, the design of outside seating areas and private balconies encourage residents to enjoy the communal gardens from both within their flats and within the gardens themselves; and provide for informal social contact, through short walks or just “taking the air” .
The ground floor flats have protected semi-private gardens to the rear with raised planting areas to enable individual gardening for disabled or elderly residents.
The success of the Garden Court can already been seen in the scale of participation on any moderately sunny day. Residents have begun to establish their own feature planting areas within the specific parts of the site. In the existing tower block, where communal areas and corridors have been re-styled and carpeted, a warm and comfortable environment has been created here again and throughout the scheme, a high degree of personalisation by residents has also developed with the use of their own plants and possessions.
CONCLUSION Sunningdale Community Development is the successful result of a sympathetic and responsive design approach in which the individual,communal, social leisure requirements of the various aspects of the community to which it relates have been addressed in conjunction with the basic design requirements. In contrast to the original site and buildings which suffered inherent problems, Sunningdale Community Development now has the successful base of a new management structure as well as a renewed environment and social confidence, both of which we all hope will continue to develop and mature.
The development seeks to provide a powerful and identifiable focal point within the Sandbrook Estate, but one which does not alienate itself from the surrounding community. An important element in achieving this is the use of a strong architectural discipline throughout the scheme, a appropriate architectural identity. Moreover, a sensitive placing of the various elements within the development allows varying degrees of interaction with the wide community.
The new shopping arcade, which forms part of the secure boundary to the site, is independently accessible to Sandbrook Estate as a whole, while remaining convenient for Sunningdale residents.
The Community Centre reflects its opportunities for wider social interaction by forming a gatehouse to the site entrance equally accessible to both Sunningdale residents and local people. Designed to wheelchair standards, it contains a community hall, kitchen, office and stores, it also houses the Security Lodge. Deliberately moderate in size, it reflects the tradition of the village hall and provides for a range of social activities appropriate to its specific location.
These include dancing, keep tit, play groups, a creche, youth clubs, dinners for the elderly as well as private functions. Establishing the correct scale of community provision was extremely important in giving an appropriate reflection of the specific needs of the community. More extensive leisure facilities are available within the Sandbrook Estate in the two existing schools.
The sheltered housing development is concentrated within the secure site boundary. The existing tower block has been converted into sheltered housing for the ambulant elderly. This block, and two groups of new two-storey sheltered flats form three sides of a shared Garden Court.
Within the tower block, a communal lounge has been formed on the ground floor through careful manipulation of openings within the structural walls. With a seating capacity of fifty, it also has a kitchen and servery. The space actively used for casual social interaction, and games of cards, darts, bingo etc., a birthday party or a wedding anniversary are regular occurrences. An independent Residents association has been established to organise more formal activities, excursions and social events.
In addition, a free laundrette, a hairdressing salon and first aid room are provided.
It was the specific intention of the design team not to dictate the way in which communal facilities should be used, but rather to create a range of opportunities within the development for communal activities and social interaction. However, it was considered essential to carefully plan the towards alienation or isolation. A good example of this philosophy is the treatment of the Garden Court and its associated elements. High quality and familiar materials have been used throughout the development such as natural roof sites, subtle tones of brick, and stained timber to encourage a sense of pride in the environment created.
Strong patterns and boldly contrasting colours, have been exploited in the planting so that those residents with poor eyesight and those living on upper floors can appreciate the landscape. In contrast to the original development where the emphasis had been on simplicity, producing bland surfaces and buildings, there is a richness in the articulation of form and space and a variety of detail.
The plants chosen have the rich colours of nostalgic smells of a Victorian cottage garden: rhododendrons, mulberry, lavender, lilacs and herbaceous plants are placed in areas screened from wind by protective evergreen hedges.
A central focus of the garden Court is a sitting area formed with trellised screens and an open summer house over which many varieties of highly scented climbing roses and clematis will grow.
The detailing of the trellis-work and the summer house are reflected in the balconies and entrances in the adjacent flats, thus creating an integrated environment on a deliberately human scale. The arrangements of pedestrian paths, the design of outside seating areas and private balconies encourage residents to enjoy the communal gardens from both within their flats and within the gardens themselves; and provide for informal social contact, through short walks or just “taking the air” .
The ground floor flats have protected semi-private gardens to the rear with raised planting areas to enable individual gardening for disabled or elderly residents.
The success of the Garden Court can already been seen in the scale of participation on any moderately sunny day. Residents have begun to establish their own feature planting areas within the specific parts of the site. In the existing tower block, where communal areas and corridors have been re-styled and carpeted, a warm and comfortable environment has been created here again and throughout the scheme, a high degree of personalisation by residents has also developed with the use of their own plants and possessions.
CONCLUSION Sunningdale Community Development is the successful result of a sympathetic and responsive design approach in which the individual,communal, social leisure requirements of the various aspects of the community to which it relates have been addressed in conjunction with the basic design requirements. In contrast to the original site and buildings which suffered inherent problems, Sunningdale Community Development now has the successful base of a new management structure as well as a renewed environment and social confidence, both of which we all hope will continue to develop and mature.
The heights were typical 1960's brutalist architecture usings LPS (large panel construction). This is were a crane lifts the panels into place (you can see the seperate panels quite clearly on these heights). Securing bolts hold the panels in place with mortar.
It's quite suprising that these don't have gas in the flats themselves as they pre-date the Ronan Point accident in London (the block partly collapsed due to a relatively small gas explosion). The accident itself caused questions around high-rise living as many of the blocks suffered from substandard construction. These seem ok though with the amount of time that they have been up for.
The flats were unique as they have underfloor heating and the blocks were heated as a whole. Wirral MBC supplemented parts of it that had failed with storage heaters.
The three blocks on Stavordale Road; Sandbourne, Melrose and Thornridge will be demolised shortly as Wirral Partnership homes believe that it's too expensive to bring them up to modern standards.
Sandbourne was used by WPH and Wirral MBC to house people under 25 and suffered because of this.
Thornridge hosts the Bidston TV transmitter, which is a relay of Winter Hill. I'd imagine this may have to get relocated to Sunningdale.
Not likely to be demolished within the next 5 years im afraid, they don't have the money to do this either. They need all new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, insulation, central heating, amongst other things, the structures were also never looked after by Wirral Council during the ownership of the blocks, and as a result, degraded to the point where they may only remain safe for another 10 years. They have a budget of £30m to do all 15 blocks that they own, and the cost across all 15 was estimated to be £90m hence the closure of a number of WPH tower blocks. There is rumors floating that these blocks have concrete cancer - though WPH say these rumors are unfounded.
Thornridge and Melrose are not cleared for another 12 - 18 months at least, Sandbourne still has at least 8 people living in it (that I know of).
The exteme shortage of suitable housing within 2 miles, is the main barrier to these blockes being emptied.
I lived in Melrose with my mate who worked for Wirral BC housing. The blocks do have some contrete cancer and damp in places. WPH refuse to fix them as it would cost too much money just to erect the scaffolding to do the work.
The underfloor heating leaks slightly in Thornridge and they have really struggled to find the source.
Large panel high-rise construction was never designed to be a long-term solution but to solve immediate housing problems faced in the 50's and 60's. A fair number of people moved from Wallasey to the Sandbrook during the constructon of Kingsway tunnel.
During the late 70's and early 80's I attended Sandbrook school and we would sit in class and watch people scale up the balonies on the higher floors like spiderman. The teachers used to tell us not to watch.
They weren't bad to live in and were always fairly warm. The only downside was the occasional "deposits" left in the lifts.
I lived in Hillview Heights? 1972-77 We lived on the top floor and got shipped out to the New Estate when they decided the heights were no place for kids!
The height were called: Fender, Hillview and Millhay. The names of these are still on the substations that feed them.
It was funny when Wirral renamed the estate and heights. The Ford became the Beechwood and the Avenues (Goodwin, Harding & Mason) all got renamed too. They made a special point of telling a number Wirral staff that they could be disciplined if they used the old names.
We had a BBQ on one of the balconies which caused the fire brigade to be called out. The Council weren't impressed and wrote letters to all the residents.
The one that stood on its own away from the other three was called Wheatfield heights. My nan lived on the tenth floor in her own flat. My uncle Don and his family lived on the 8th.
I often thought that throwing things off the baloncy was more of a statement than just putting it in the bin.
I remember the Kays catalogue being launched and one of the girlfriends bursting into tears. Good job it never hit anybody below; what a way to die, being hit by the autumn/winter collection.
I lived in Hillview Heights? 1972-77 We lived on the top floor and got shipped out to the New Estate when they decided the heights were no place for kids!
"Jegsy Dodd is a poet from Birkenhead. He had a bit of fame and fortune a couple of years ago, topping the radio 1 festive 50 chart. The poem above was performed with his band, The Sons of Harry Cross and can be found on the album, Winebars and werewolves.
Back in the early 80's, Birkenhead and it's surrounds was pretty run down. Heroin became a big problem in some parts. Hillview heights is 3 tower blocks in Moreton, and it had a reputation for housing disadvantaged people.
It's now been renamed and the situation round here is nowhere near as bad as it was, although it still has it's share of problems. When I worked as a meter reader a few years back, I had to do these blocks, and it was difficult to gain entry. A knock on the door is often bad news when you've got no money."
Could that be the Reeds Lane/Hoylake Road junction? I think the blocks were last painted around 1996 as I remember the police used the external lift platform that was installed to monitor and ultimately catch a dealer who operated out of Melrose. The dealer couldn't figure out why there was so many "painters" working on the platform and why it took longer to paint the second floor than it did the rest of the block until it was too late. The police observed the whole operation through the guy's kitchen window.
Another chap in Sandbourne was raided in about 1997 and was forced to brew tea up for the entire drug squad that had flattened his front door a few minutes before. A custodial term was not deemed appropiate by the judge for the tiny amount uncovered in the raid and instead the guy was sentanced to a 3 months community service order to be served in scope charity shop.
Sandbrook primary was constructed around 1965 and replaced Moreton Primary School in Barnston Lane which partly burnt down in a fire. The school crest was a phoenix rising from the flames.
Temporary accomodation was provided in the form of "huts" as shown in the pics. These stayed up until around 2000, so the word "temporary" has to be used quite losely! These housed the middle year groups when I attended.
The school was quite unique as it had its own outdoor swimming pool that was filled annually from the fire hose. It was maintained by the caretaker and heated from an outdoor boiler (although it didn't seem like it!). The pool survived into the 1990's and was likely removed due to the cost of maintenance. Pupil numbers have shown a steady decline since the 80's like most other schools.
The caretaker was a Mr Alderson who passed away a few years ago; his service covered the majority of the school's life.
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