Austin-Smith:Lord is delighted at having been appointed by Linc Cymru Housing Association to work with them and their project partners Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, ARCH and Bridgend Council, on their exciting proposals for the Bridgend Wellness Village project. The redevelopment of the Sunnyside site is an extremely interesting project of significant importance to Bridgend and its community, aiming to regenerate the site of the old Magistrates Court.

The brief is innovative and forward looking in its aim of providing a vibrant, multi-generational community focussed on integrating Wellness into the design of the mixed use development. The positive impact of good design on health and wellbeing will be actively integrated into the masterplan with the project forming part of a wider network of innovative Wellness facilities to promote health and wellbeing for the people of South Wales.

Wellness is defined by the World Health Organization as; “…a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

The development will provide much needed social housing, supported accommodation, a new primary care health centre and community spaces linked together through landscaping which focuses on the wellbeing of its users, residents and the wider community. The new health and wellbeing centre, comprising of GP surgery and primary care services, will form the new frontage of the site and connect to the existing established leisure facilities, further enhancing the wellbeing approach to the scheme. The design concept for the proposed social housing ‘village’ is based on clusters of different housing units around shared courtyards aiming to foster community engagement and ownership amongst tenants.

Linc Cymru and their project team partners have outlined the following specific objectives for the project:

• A multi-use health and social care building incorporating a GP surgery along with Primary Care facilities for the wider community, with flexibility to deal with future demands
• General needs social housing units for a range of different residents, designed to be accessible for all including those with dementia
• Supported accommodation for those with additional needs, with shared community spaces open to all and encourage social activities and connections to the health centre
• Linkages to the wider community and surrounding amenities to create a sustainable Wellness Village, whilst complementing Bridgend town centre and the established neighbouring leisure facilities
• Integrated site-wide landscaping to include well-designed public open spaces, opportunities for growing, socialising, recreation and relaxation, community events and public arts

Lead client on the project, Linc Cymru, specialise in the provision affordable housing, social care and health sectors in Wales. They provide homes and services to tenants across the social, intermediate and market rent sectors as well as health and social care support services.