A milestone moment at Sir James Altham Day Centre, South Oxhey!

The LIFE Build site team, together with our Managing Director, John Papworth, were delighted to welcome representatives from Hertfordshire County Council and the wider project team to site on Tuesday 11th August for a special turf-cutting ceremony marking an important milestone in the construction of the new Sir James Altham Adult Day Service Centre in South Oxhey.

The ceremony provided an opportunity to celebrate the progress of this important community project and recognise the collaborative work undertaken by everyone involved in bringing the scheme forward.

Located on the former Sir James Altham School site, the new purpose-built centre will provide a modern, welcoming and fully accessible environment for people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and conditions including dementia

The building has been shaped through an extensive co-design process involving staff, carers, people who use the service and other stakeholders, creating an environment designed to promote wellbeing, independence and community inclusion.

Once complete, the centre will include flexible activity and therapy rooms, a multi-purpose hall and dining area, catering and rehabilitation kitchens, treatment and medication rooms and dedicated staff and administration facilities.

Sustainability is also central to the design, with the building developed in line with Net Zero in Operation principles. Measures include mixed-mode ventilation, heat recovery systems, energy-efficient lighting, enhanced insulation, triple glazing, low-flow water fittings and air source heat pumps. Enhanced landscaping and planting will also deliver a measurable increase in biodiversity across the site.

The wider development will improve access and provide dedicated minibus parking, together with additional parking to support Oxhey Jets FC during matchdays and community events.

LIFE Build has been appointed as Main Contractor through the Pretium Framework, delivering the project under a Design & Build contract. We are proud to be working with Hertfordshire County Council and the wider professional team including Press Starkey LLP and Brinson Staniland Partnership to bring this important community facility to life. to deliver a facility that will make a genuine and lasting difference to the people who use it, their families and the wider South Oxhey community.

A big thank you to everyone who joined John and the LIFE Build team for the turf-cutting ceremony and helped us mark this important milestone.

We look forward to sharing further updates as construction progresses towards completion in June 2027.