A REAL HOME FROM HOME SOLUTION
As more and more of us face the reality of a loved one needing constant care there are a many factors to consider at this difficult time.
This was the dilemma faced by one couple recently and now, six months on, they have found the perfect solution. They now have their parents living with them in their own self contained home which is situated in the garden of their 3 bedroomed detached suburban property!
Joanna Barker, along with her siblings, did not want to place her elderly parents into a home as they both have very different needs. So initially an extension to their detached property was considered. This would have been costly and the whole appearance of the property would have changed leaving the home too large for Ms Barker and her partner once the extension was no longer required.
Ms Barker then decided to visit a local company, Tingdene Homes Limited, who are specialists in all types of modular buildings. The staff there were very helpful and helped Ms Barker design a one bedroom home which would suit her parent’s needs. The home, built to a park home specification has widened doorways and low thresholds as well as an open plan layout which allows the ease of movement for a wheelchair when required.
The Local Authority was contacted and they came out to view the property and the positioning of the proposed park home. They agreed that the Park Home could be installed in the garden without the need for planning permission as it was covered under their house’s permitted developments rights allowing the provision of this home within the cartilage of the existing dwelling house.
These types of developments can be permitted providing in most cases:
- The total area of ground covered by buildings, enclosures and containers (apart from the original dwelling house is less than 50% of the total cartilage.
- No part of the new building is situated on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation of the original dwelling house.
- The building has only one storey.
- The height of the building does not exceed 4 metres if it has a dual pitched roof, 2.5 meters if it is within 2 metres of the boundary of the cartilage of the dwelling house or 3 metre in other cases.
- The height of the eaves do not exceed 2.5 metres.
- No veranda, balcony or raised platform are included.
(The above is based on information currently available before commencing any works however you are advised to check your deeds to see is there are any covenants, private rights of way, or other legal restrictions which would preclude the work being carried out.)
Within 6 weeks of ordering the park home was delivered and sited on a pre-prepared concrete base. The home was then connected to mains services and the property was subject to a final Post Delivery Inspection from Tingdene Homes Limited.
Ms Barker’s parents were then able to move into the home at their own pace and are now very content knowing that their daughter is just a stone’s throw away. For Joanna this means that instead of having to make a 30 mile round trip several times a day to assist her parents she simply has to walk out to her garden.
This solution has certainly helped this couple and taking into consideration the costs of building an extension and the upheaval that this would cause together with the prospect of mounting fees in a residential home they feel that they have made the right choice for them. Furthermore should, at some point, the Park Home not be required it can be sold off site therefore returning some of the original expenditure.
The couple can enjoy views over the garden and watch the birds come and go, knowing that they are safe and secure with help close by at all times. Whilst the children know their parents are safe and secure in the retirement years.
Who could want more for their parents and what parents could want for more?
For further information contact Tingdene Homes Limited, Bradfield Road, Finedon Road Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 4HB.
Call 01933 230130, email sales@tingdene.co.uk, www tingdene.co.uk.