Project Profile | Helen Ley Care Home, Blackdown, Warwickshire

Helen Ley Home was the first specialist respite home for people with Multiple Sclerosis in the United Kingdom.

The Helen Ley Home comprises two parts; the Helen Ley (Long Stay) Court, and the Helen Ley Care Centre. Originally conceived and constructed in 1979, the first two wings of the Helen Ley Care Centre were constructed, Wings 1 and 2, separated by ancillary communal accommodation.  In this phase, the Wings were constructed of ‘Four L’ prefabricated units that were brought to site and fitted together.  Each unit is constructed as an open sided box using thin reinforced concrete panels for the cross wall, floor panel and two end walls.  The units has a pitched roof of timber trussed rafters clad with Langhome bitumen slates.

The second phase in 1982 involved the construction of existing Wings 3 and 4 to the Helen Ley Care Centre, and the extension of the associated ancillary accommodation. This increased the respite accommodation capacity up to 23 bedrooms.

The new bedrooms were built using conventional construction applicable at the time, and followed a similar specification with regards to materials, finishes, fixtures and fittings.  The external envelope was maintained as Coloroc cladding.

The third phase in 1995 involved the construction of the Helen Ley Court; the long stay residential care home that included the octagonal lounge, which occupies the south west area of the site. 

Since then, further additions have been incorporated to increase the range of facilities and improve the service offered by the Home; these include a Physio Therapy Room; Spa Therapy Room and the Amersham Smoking Lounge.

The most recent upgrade has been the £1.6m upgrade development, which included the reconfiguration of the existing dated bedrooms and the addition of new 14-ensuite-rooms.

The overall works within this complex project involved the demolition of Wing 4 (Warwick Wing), and the subsequent construction of a new Wing accommodating 14no new bedrooms numbered 11 to 24, each with ensuite facilities. Ancillary support accommodation was also provided, including a Nurses Station and a Chapel Area.

Furthermore, the existing wings were extended and refurbished, including existing Wing 3 (Leamington), accommodating new bedrooms numbered 1 to 4 and ancillary support accommodation; existing Wing 1 (Coventry), accommodating new bedrooms numbered 5 to 7, and ancillary support accommodation; and finally existing Wing 2 (Kenilworth), accommodating new bedrooms numbered 8 to 10 and ancillary support accommodation.

Comprehensively, the total works to the Helen Ley Care Centre also included a new electrical, heating and hot-water system (modifying the existing radiator based system combined with an underfloor heating system to the new wing); a new emergency call system; upgrade in part and part new fixtures and fittings; relocation of service facilities such as the Laundry; re-roofing works throughout; re-decorations throughout the modified areas of activity; external ground works and landscaping.

The Home was was re-opened by HRH Prince Philip, on 26th September 2006.