Firecrest Construction completes residential care facility in Leeds
Posted by The Editor
Firecrest Construction has successfully completed the delivery of a residential care facility in Leeds for Active Pathways.
The specialist contractor completed and handed over the new-build facility within a demanding 40-week programme, supporting the timely opening of the 15-bed care home for men with mental health needs.
‘Fernside House’, on Hilltop Road in Armley sits on a former workshop that was previously demolished. Firecrest Construction has delivered a full turnkey package for the 10,000 sq ft, 2-storey facility to include internal and external fixtures.
The residential care home supports people with mental health needs who have reached their optimal level of functioning but still require ongoing structured support to maintain stability and manage risks in the community.
The facility includes 15 en-suite bedrooms, two self-contained apartments, a lounge, therapy kitchen, and a spacious communal area for relaxation, socialising, and meals. It also features a quiet room for reflection, an activity room for recreational events, and meeting rooms for one-to-one sessions, therapy, and care plan reviews.
Externally, Firecrest Construction delivered a courtyard, orchard, and horticultural area, creating space for relaxation and engagement with nature. The horticultural area enables peole living in Fernside to take part in gardening activities that support physical and mental well-being.
Callum Hepples, commercial manager said, “We are delighted to have completed this important community facility for Active Pathways in Leeds. Specialist care homes are complex projects, requiring strict healthcare compliance, medical equipment integration, and accessibility to be balanced with a comfortable, non-institutional living environment. Our team has extensive experience working with providers to deliver high-quality, compliant care homes that support each resident’s physical and emotional well-being.”
Firecrest Construction delivered the project alongside Den Architecture, and Dudleys Consulting Engineers.
Active Pathways is a specialist care provider supporting adults with complex mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism. Operating across the North of England, its residential and supported living services help people move safely from hospital into community-based settings and work towards greater independence.
Syd Coombs, managing director at Active Pathways, said: “We wanted Fernside House to be a place that works well for everyone who lives and works there. It has been carefully designed to feel modern, welcoming and homely, while creating a practical environment where people can work alongside our teams towards their individual goals.
“At Active Pathways, we see the environment as an important part of our therapeutic approach. Every space at Fernside House has a purpose, helping people build confidence, develop everyday living skills and work towards greater independence and community living.”
Established in 2007, Firecrest Construction is a reputable principal contractor specialising in high-quality, complex construction projects across industrial, commercial, residential, healthcare and education sectors. The £15 million turnover business employs a team of 14 experts at its Leeds headquarters to provide in-house design and construction services with a proactive, sustainable approach to delivering projects on time and within budget.
