Centre for Homeless starts on site

Holmes Miller is delighted that the new centre for homeless people with complex needs that will provide access to integrated primary care, housing and social work support in Edinburgh for NHS Lothian has started on site.  The facility will be run by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership and will allow homeless people who have complex needs to seek advice on medical, housing and social issues.  The project is being delivered as the first project in a primary care framework between Hub South East and NHS Lothian. 

The existing building is a grade-C listed building, located in the historic Cowgate in Edinburgh. It is currently vacant but was most recently used as a school for children with special educational needs. The main alteration to the building is to create a new entrance off the Cowgate. 

The physical environment and social spaces within the building are being developed to support a psychological environment for those receiving and delivering support. Feedback from those who currently use services has been implemented into the redesign.  The significant majority of the first floor rooms and internal detailing will be retained. The decorative bottom cords of the first floor trusses; the simple cornicing and the timber panelling will be largely retained and painted.  The re-planning of the ground floor is more significant and very few existing rooms are being retained – there is no significant historic architectural detail worthy of retention. 

The ground floor is to be compartmentalised into consulting rooms; treatment rooms and interview rooms, all accessed from a central open plan waiting area. 

This is an exciting initiative for Holmes Miller to be involved in developing and will support services to come together to better meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable people in Edinburgh.