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[Moira24160]

Hello! I am hoping to diversify into Agri-tourism and have outline planing to provide self catering holiday homes will a high level of accessibility, also hope to offer an additional care/support package if required.

I was an RGN and have an up to date moving & handling certificate.
We hope to apply for a grant in Feb 2012 to help us build them.

I come to you for your comments on what we hope to do.

OUTLINE
We have outline planning permission to build two houses but our developer thinks we may be able to have within the houses self contained flats.
They will be able to be split, mix & match for guest numbers & accessible requirements.
Built in a "U" shape, like an old farm steading. We hope to offer 5* Self catering holidays.

One house will sleep 10 in 5 ensuit bedrooms, the other will sleep 6 in 3 en suit bedrooms. Within these houses will be self contained flats, sleeping two. We should be able to offer facilities from couples up to a group of 16. One house will have an area large enough for 16 to eat & socialise together.I am suggesting a rise & fall worktop area at one end of the dining table to allow those with larger wheelchairs to sit comfortably (will this work?)
The houses will be built on a slope. From the rear the upper level will be as a single story accessible by wheelchairs and the self contained flats here (?2) will be category 1. With a futher upstairs bedroom. The downstairs self contained flat will of course have the tracking hoist.
Can you help with the bathrooms? eg showers/baths. spacing for toilets, washbaisins. I have given the developer a challenge to have the facilities but "not in your face" don't know if this is possible. What additional equipment would be useful?

The downstairs bedrooms in both houses will all have tracking hoists with an interchaingeable motor unit (?5 bedrooms)
I intend to have zip link beds- in time I may be able to have a profile bed (when the budget permits)

In an ideal world I would like to have a lift but I don't think my budget will reach that- I'm hoping with 5 downstairs wheelchair accessible rooms will meet most needs. The upstairs will still be wheel chair accessible.

I'm sorry I don't yet have sketches and I hope I have described it OK!!

I will be concious of colour contrasts and hope to instal loop systems to accommodate those with sensory issues.

The houses will be linked by a games/play area with laundry facilities, for use of all guests.

We are 20min from St Andrews, and within an hour of Edinburgh, Perthshire, Angus, more information is on our current web site www.ringfarm.co.uk for our holiday caravans which sadly are not accessible.

Ideal for many types of holiday, relaxing, touring, sport etc.

My motivation has been family driven. My Mother had a severe stroke and required hoisting. I cared for her at home and would have loved to have taken her on holiday but without care support I would have struggled and trying to find a house suitable for our needs, without a bit of care support, would have been exhausting (I wasn't too well at the time myself).

I also had a cousin who had to stay in a hospice while his family went on holiday!

Visit Scotland introduced me to a chap who has been a wheelchair user for 30 years and has campaigned for "stayability" as much as "accessibility".
I do hope my vocabulary has not been offensive and I would be happy for you to correct that too if required.

We are in a fantastic area of Fife with beautiful view over rolling countryside.

Almost forgot they will be built with "sips" panels making them very well insulated, we hope to heat with air exchange pump, with log stoves for the country feel! There will be a heat recovery system & rainwater recovery. We are thinking we would be better to have an auxilliary generator in case of power cuts. I appreciate temperature control is vital. If any one would like to ask me anything I will be happy to reply.

I have become quite passionate about this and want to build something that you would be able to & want to come on holiday to.

Thank you for reading this!!

Moira Henderson