Community Gateway Association (CGA) is a not-for-profit community-based housing association set up in 2005 to meet the housing needs of people in Preston and the surrounding areas. With tenants at the heart, their ethos is very much about creating vibrant, friendly and diverse communities where people want to live, work and play.
“The Spires” project involved repurposing a former low-demand sheltered housing scheme to accommodate up to 26 people who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness. The new design provides spacious self-contained apartments and communal areas for training and development that will assist people to live independently in the future. (Community Gateway, 2021).
CGA chose FRC Living as their supplier to equip the living and dining communal spaces and the 26 one bedroom apartments. We provided furniture, window coverings and various starter packs including bedding, towels and essential kitchen utensils. We also supplied window films of Preston landscapes, which create privacy between rooms and ensure a safer environment as glass windows are more easily identified.
This was supplemented by our interior design and project management services – both highly commended by the customer. They appreciated our ability to accommodate timing issues and site restrictions.
The interior design for the accommodation followed a basic brief, matching the colours of window coverings with bedding and sofas with flooring, complementing paint colours already specified. We used classic oak furniture which is 100% FSC certified. A ‘Medicote’ lacquer is used which is formulated to prevent bacteria surviving on its surface.
FRC Living have a team of in-house delivery drivers who are fully DBS checked, as well as being equality & diversity and customer service trained. Community Gateway colleagues felt that they were very helpful and professional unpacking every item and leaving the space looking presentable.
“FRC Living have provided an exceptional service in working with us on this project and we were impressed by the range of quality items they were able to supply. Communication has been excellent throughout and we appreciated their adaptability in meeting our timescales. They are experts in their field and have years of experience – we would highly recommend them. Thank you FRC Living!”
Fiona Fisher
Head of Housing Services