The Brief
Alicia, affectionately known as her mum’s ‘Little Princess,’ now has a home and suite of rooms worthy of any princess. This journey has been a significant one for all involved, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Alicia and her family.
When Alicia was born, she suffered life-changing injuries and was subsequently diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Until five years ago, Alicia and her family lived in a three-bedroom local authority property. Although a through-floor lift had been installed, space upstairs was so constrained that the lift couldn’t access the bedroom. The family was in desperate need of more space.
Watch the VideoThe Challenge
PLG stepped in to help find a suitable property. We initially located a large rental home that met Alicia’s needs, but it was still quite close to their previous home, and the children missed their friends. When it came time to purchase Alicia’s forever home, location was crucial.
A large detached house on a small estate became available in the desired location. While not an obvious choice—indeed, it was not a property we would usually consider—it was situated on a corner plot with ample side and rear ground that offered potential for adaptation.
The Solution
Alicia’s mum, Vikki, had specific non-negotiable criteria: the location and the need for the whole family to have their bedrooms upstairs. PLG set out to meet these needs by working closely with the planning authority and securing permission to effectively double the size of the house.
The extension included Alicia’s sensory and therapy room, as well as a hydrotherapy pool with changing facilities and a through-floor lift. Upstairs, Alicia’s bedroom and wet-room were conveniently located next to her parents’ room. The integration of the new and old sections of the house was seamless, with widened corridors allowing Alicia easy access throughout. Although the house appears like any other from the outside, inside it has been transformed into a dream home for Vikki’s little princess.
“I feel I have been on the whole journey with this lovely family. It has been great to be there for them through the most challenging of times. To have been able to find a house which ordinarily I would never have thought suitable for adaptation and turn it into the most incredible solution for Alicia’s needs is quite something. I am thrilled to see Vikki and the family so pleased with their hew home.”
says Glenn Hotchin, Director at PLG.
