Dovehouse Court, High Street

Dovehouse Court is the first almshouse development to fully conform with Passivhaus standards and has been recognised with a number of prestigious national awards for its energy efficiency and inspirational design.

These include: Innovation For Living Award from the Almshouse Association, British Homes Awards for the Later Living/Supported Living Design of the Year, Judges’ Award for Sustainable Project of the Year and most recently the Royal Society of British Architects East Award.

The Passivhaus status ensures that the 15 single storey apartments enjoy low energy costs and improved indoor air quality, benefitting from energy-efficient windows and doors, with stricter levels of airtightness, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery as well as high levels of building insulation.

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 provided, in addition to two parking spaces for the GTC office.

The apartments are available to those living in, or with a close connection to Girton.  Vacancies are 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.