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17 November 09 - Local Company Wins Contract that will Raise the Roof

Plymouth based construction firm KMS (Contract Building Services) Ltd has been awarded a £750,000 contract to redevelop a residential care home in Tavistock by raising the roof to create a further eleven bedrooms – whilst the residents are still living within its walls.

Chollacott House is an Edwardian Gentleman's residence standing in its own grounds just outside Tavistock. It has been a Nursing Home for 70 years and prior to that was the local Maternity Home. It is now part of Stonehaven Care Group and provides long and short term nursing and residential care for convalescence, physical disability, terminal illness, palliative care and care of the frail and elderly.

Over the years extensions and upgrades have been added, but none as ambitious as the project that is starting this week.

Managing Director of the Stonehaven Care Group Stephen Stone said; “We are looking forward to be working with KMS and have every confidence in their ability to undertake this task with the sensitivity it needs. This new extension will significantly improve facilities offered at Chollacott by creating a specialist State of the Art Dementia care unit, with each room having in-built capability to further adapt to full Palliative Care as and when needed. At the moment 31 people are able to stay here, but once this project is complete, we should be able to accommodate a further 11. There will be the 11 new bedrooms, with more showers, a new nursing station, washrooms and storage.”

During the construction of a new top half of the building, the health & safety plan enables the 12 residents to remain living within the immediate lower floor area. Kevin Smith, Managing Director of KMS (Contract Building Services) Ltd has every confidence that the inhabitants will experience as little disturbance as possible; “KMS as a building company has built a reputation of excellence for working within controlled environments. We have just completed a significant extension to The Macmillan Mustard Tree Centre at Derriford Hospital, and other changes to Derriford’s A&E Department. This particular project is not without its challenges, but we are in no doubt that those living and working at Chollacott will feel as little disturbance as possible.

Braunton based Chartered Quantity Surveyors Chris Potter and Associates are Project Managers for the scheme. Chris Potter explains: “The design and specification was tailored to ensure speed of construction and to ensure the business remains unaffected. Timber frame walls and specialist floor design to allow the routing of services have been considered. In addition, a large tent scaffold is to be erected which will encapsulate the existing building. Only then, can the existing roof be removed and new first floor constructed.

Other changes to be implemented by KMS will be the refurbishment and upgrade of existing heating and fire safety systems, as well as improvements to the garden and landscaping by creating a secure sensory garden.

Kevin Smith of KMS Construction added; “During a time when many construction companies are feeling the effects of the economic downturn we are continuing to grow and expand, creating a defined niche as specialists for working in controlled environments. We are delighted to have been awarded another sizable contract, and are looking forward to another year that is already showing signs of promise.”