West Midlands-based Fusion Building Consultancy has completed a six-month refurbishment programme to create ten independent living apartments for people with autism.

It is another success for the Birmingham company, which has provided project management expertise to residential care and supported living organisation Homes Caring for Autism (HCA) on two previous accommodation schemes.

The Somerset-based organisation was so impressed with the project management work Fusion undertook in 2012 and 2013 when it built two new homes that the consultancy was called upon again to lead the £650,000 refurbishment of Wembdon Rise, a former Somerset County Council property in Bridgwater.

Birmingham-based Coltham Developments was appointed development manager to advise HCA on the purchase of the property and instructed Fusion to undertake the project management and cost consultancy role in the delivery of the refurbishment of the main home of 430sq m (4,328 sq ft) and two other buildings, one of which was a former coach house, of 155sq m (1,668 sq ft) and 75 sq m (807 sq ft).

Simon Mole, project manager and quantity surveyor at Fusion, said part of the brief was to retain the original features of the coach house as part of the scheme.

Its careful planning and project management has now transformed the former care home, which will provide premium quality living self-contained accommodation with staff offices, communal facilities and offices.

“We have enjoyed a superb relationship with the organisation on previous projects, so we were only too pleased to work with HCA again,” says Simon. “The scheme has gone very smoothly through all stages and now the property is looking fantastic. It is now ready to be occupied, enabling Homes Caring for Autism to continue providing excellent care for individuals with autism.”

Homes Caring for Autism started operating in 2004 and now runs residential and supported living services across Somerset, North Somerset and Wiltshire.

Including this new project, it now runs ten residential homes for individuals with autism and is planning to grow further to provide high quality accommodation for people who have complex needs.

HCA managing director Richard Smith, said: “We’ve been so pleased with the work that Fusion has done for us on other schemes that we had no hesitation in working with the company again. I’m delighted that it is another first-class job and I’m looking forward to welcoming our residents.”

Stuart Franks, of Coltham Developments, added: “Because we and Fusion have worked closely before with HCA, we understand their ethos and how they work; we had no hesitation in providing our expertise for another accommodation scheme and are pleased with how it has progressed.”