From awards shortlisting’s, looking back on 5 years of France + Associates and celebrating the successes of members of our team, we look back on 2021.

We were delighted to kick-start the year as finalists at the Northern Design Awards 2020 in the ‘Social Assisted Living’ category for our project, JR v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [2017]. The awards bring together designers, retailers and property developers in a glittering celebration of Northern design and style.

This same project was also highly commended at the 2020 CIAT Awards for Excellence in Architectural Technology (small to medium), you can take a virtual tour of the property here.

The property in Sheffield was designed for our client, JR, who sustained a catastrophic brain injury at birth. The family home is accessible, supports ongoing rehabilitation and has a through-floor lift and hydrotherapy pool.

When we asked JR what he enjoys the most about his home, he said, "My freedom".

On the 28^th February, we turned 5 years old – Founder and Managing Director reflected on the past few years and the future of inclusive design, including his drive to set up his own business and his plans to venture into property development in the future, specifically in the inclusive market to provide more accessible homes.

You can read his interview here:

5 Questions for 5 years. Article France + Associates (franceandassociates.co.uk)

Managing Director, Jonathan France was announced as a Fellow Member of the CIAT. The Fellow Membership was launched on the 22^nd March 2021 and complements the ‘Chartered Architectural Technologist’ professional qualification and acknowledges the members’ significant contribution to and/or excellence in Architectural Technology.

In July, Dannii Humphries graduated from the University of Huddersfield with a First-Class Honours Degree and is now an Architectural Technologist ACIAT. She was also awarded the CIAT Technologist prize for the ‘Most Outstanding Graduating Student’ for Architectural Technology.

In May, Jonathan appeared on the Stewarts Soundbites series to discuss finding and adapting accommodation in a post-Covid world. In the session he explored the challenges presented to individuals and rehab teams in finding suitable property for people who have suffered life-changing injuries.

To listen again, click here: Stewarts Soundbites - Bitesize webcasts from specialist lawyers - Stewarts (stewartslaw.com)

In the last 12 months, we have embarked on many new projects for our clients, including an adapted home for Isaac, a little boy who suffered a brain injury at birth, a home for Steven who lives with cerebral palsy and needed his home future proofing as he outgrows the previous adaptations, and an extension to an existing accessible home for Alastair, who will be getting a hydrotherapy pool and home office in the new year, to name but a few!

For a full list, check out our Projects Page and follow us on social media for updates on various new projects either onsite or due to commence in 2022.

We were delighted to be shortlisted for the second time at the 2021 Personal Injury awards in the category ‘Supporting the Industry’, which recognises those who provide services to professionals working in the PI Sector.

The ceremony was held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, and it was great to attend and catch up with colleague and friends from the Personal Injury sector.

Our team have also been busy attending various exhibitions this year, including the Kidz to Adultz North Exhibition in November at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool, and most recently, we exhibited at the BABICM – Decisions, Decision – The Way Forward: Supporting Capacitous Choices in Litigation and Beyond at the Principal Hotel in York.

Throughout the year, we have shared a number of guest articles, and would like to thank everyone who has contributed; George Hooton, Kate Sheehan, Sarah Greenwood, Rob Hardy, James Smith, Emma Bohan, Liz Lambert, Jackie Chappel, Denise Slack, Helen Graham, Lucy Taylor, Steve Wiseman and Emma Taylor.

Other highlights from 2021:

• We have seen a significant increase in property finding enquiries and instructions over 2020, including finding a suitable property for our client, S. At the time, he was receiving intensive rehabilitation at STEPS Rehabilitation as a residential client, following a road traffic accident in June 2020 that resulted in a spinal cord injury. Our client was living in an adapted rental property and had specific requirements for their new home, including a very particular set of suitable locations. They also required a property that was accessible in a wheelchair, had long distance views and wasn’t overlooked. The home also needed to accommodate future requirements of care needs and pool therapy. You can read our article on property finding here.
• 100% success rate in planning applications, despite planning application delays following covid in 2020.
• France + Associates designed and managed £2.75mil worth of construction work during 2021, all specifically bespoke adaptations for disabled persons, you can take a look at some of our projects here.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.