Sutton Pools, Sutton in Ashfield

Brook Street, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 1ES

This residential scheme of 22 apartments and 3 bungalows is the first new housing for Ashfield District Council for 30 years and provides affordable homes for over 55s. Built on the site of a former public swimming pool, the development also includes a community room for events and communal outdoor areas.

The site is enclosed on 3 sides, which presented challenges to the design team and required us to work with local residents to achieve a design that responded to the need for new housing, was sympathetic to the original architecture, as well as ensuring local residents were comfortable with the proposals.

The stone tower on the original facade of 1924 Sutton Pools complex was dismantled and rebuilt as part of the new scheme. The apartments are highly energy efficient – the building is lifetime homes compliant and achieves Level 4 of Code for Sustainable Homes.

Constructed by Willmott Dixon and completed in 2014 for a total value of £3m, the scheme has been recognised by RTPI as the East Midlands Development of the Year in 2015 and the development has achieved Secure by Design status.