Methodist Homes (MHA), Care Home and Retirement Living CapEx Programme

Throughout the pandemic and during subsequent months, refurbishment works had slowed significantly, resulting in more locations than usual requiring works at the same time. To help MHA prioritise and progress works for building services across their national building stock in 2022, our engineers were appointed to undertake survey work at 46 key sites to identify urgent items and validate previously suggested works.

With each survey, we went beyond exploring the basics and also made recommendations for ways to improve the efficiency and performance of upgraded MEP equipment at each location; appreciating that our primary focus on the building services was just part of the main CapEx programme for maintenance and refurbishment to improve overall energy efficiency, ease of maintenance, and home environments for residents at MHA locations.

Through close liaison with our client, specific upgrade works were agreed and we had responsibility for producing detailed designs and procuring and overseeing contractors for each installation, through to final handover. We worked closely with our project partner, Summers Inman, to ensure Project Management and Contract Administration ran smoothly throughout.

With multiple live projects across several locations and ultimately, entering people’s homes to undertake works, the personal touch was more important than ever. As the consultant responsible for overseeing the entire process, our engineers built up close working relationships with key stakeholders such as care home management, staff and maintenance teams to assess requirements, keep them updated, and deliver work with minimal disruption to them and residents. Projects were carefully planned and phased at each home (with safe working measures to protect everyone from illnesses in these vulnerable settings) to ensure daily life was not disrupted for residents or staff during survey and upgrade works.

Ensuring finished installations maintained a homely feel wherever possible for all residents, improvements made to a variety of building services systems included upgrades to; heating and hot water (including building management/central control), low voltage (LV) distribution, general and emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm, and patient to nurse call systems.

To drive further cost and project efficiencies, existing building services systems equipment was retained on sites, reusing elements sustainably wherever possible. In addition, options were explored where appropriate for the introduction of renewable energy generation at some settings, like solar PV and air source heat pumps.

Our team have been appointed in the same role to also support MHA’s 2023 CapEx Programme.