This disused former hostel in Lake Street has been brought back to life to provide nine council homes following a major refurbishment project by ODS.
Roken House had variously served as a hostel for young mothers and their children and ex-offenders since the 1960s, although there were lengthy periods when it lay empty.
It was vacant when we bought the site from Home Group in April 2022.
Legal duties introduced by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 mean there has been a significant increase in the need for temporary and settled housing for single people and couples without children in recent years.
Roken House helps meet this need by providing nine one-bed flats, which have been let as permanent homes to people on our housing register.
Refurbishment works
Before refurbishment, Roken House had eight flats. An extra flat was created by reconfiguring the internal layout and converting two two-bed flats into three one-bed flats. All three have new kitchens and bathrooms.
Air source heat pumps to provide heating and hot water mean Roken House is now all-electric, helping us meet our carbon reduction targets by reducing reliance on gas.
Fire safety measures were upgraded throughout the building. This work included new windows and fireproofing a flat roof to improve an escape route, a new fire alarm and misting systems in all flats to suppress the spread of fire.
Internal and external redecoration work included replacing low-level rendering to the rear of the building, where Roken House backs onto Hinksey Park.
ODS partnered with Jessop and Cook Architects to deliver the refurbishment.
