Dovehouse Court

Built to stringent Passivhaus standards, Dovehouse Court provides 15 almshouses for the over 55s and an office for GTC.
 
Designed to meet the future needs of the elderly, it allows for extended independent living including easy wheelchair access. Internal layout of the homes includes a master bedroom and small second room, open plan living/kitchen/dining area with access to balconies or individual terraces on the ground floor and communal landscaped gardens, an orchard and allotments. Mobility scooter parking and car parking places for most homes are proposed, in addition to two parking spaces for the GTC office.
 
Passivhaus is a leading international low-energy design standard which offers a robust and proven method to help UK construction achieve carbon reduction targets set out by the Government and local authorities, leading to a sustainable future for the environment locally, nationally globally.

The timber frame panels are made from Spruce soft wood sourced from Scandinavia and manufactured in Welshpool by Lowfield Timber which specialises in Passivhaus buildings. The frames were delivered to site on lorries, for erection by crane, and once completed, an air test will be carried out to calculate the building’s air permeability.
 
Funded by GTC and a grant from CPCA, the Dovehouse Court almshouses and gardens were formally opened on 29th April 2023. These apartments will be made available to those living in, or with a close connection to Girton.  Vacancies will be advertised locally for which residents can apply and be interviewed, with decisions made after careful consideration on the basis of a wide range of criteria.