Sunrise Foyer, Chatham

Location: Kent

Client: MHS Homes

Completed: Autumn 2024

Value: £3million

The development required a careful mix of refurbishment and new build construction skills to transform the former care home, which stood derelict and disused for 4 years, into a fit-for-purpose 30no. unit young person’s Foyer Federation facility. 

Part-funded by the Single Homelessness Accommodation programme the project includes 25 studio flats, three one-bedroom flats and two fully adapted units to accommodate those with mobility issues. 

The existing 3-storey building was extended to provide two additional studio flats whilst internally the existing building has been fully renovated. The scheme provides essential shelter and support for young people who find themselves homeless whilst working to improve their social skills, health and education, ultimately improving their chances of employment when they leave, inspiring and empowering them to thrive and achieve their potential. Communal facilities comprise a vibrant central hub, an activities room and a cinema as well as ancillary facilities that include an office, welcoming reception area and sufficient storage space alongside plenty of external green spaces, laundry and exercise facilities and an outbuilding for activities and workshops.

Working closely with appointed architectural practice RDA and engineers Wilson & Partners and Considine throughout pre-construction stages, the team worked to overcome design challenges posed by the existing layout and services and to carefully blend the extension with the character of the existing building. A logistically challenging site situated on a large estate with a Public Right of Way running through the site, the project team carefully managed the intricacies of refurbishing an existing redundant facility whilst nurturing neighbouring and public relations.   

With almost 136000 young people experiencing homelessness last year in the UK facilities like this are critical to targeting the root causes of this problem and will undoubtedly and thankfully transform lives. Tristian Osborne MP who joined the Leader of Medway Council Vince Maple in officially opening the project stated: “The new sunrise foyer will be a lifeline for young people who have nowhere else to go…with somewhere safe to live they can turn their lives around and move away from homelessness for good.”