Cowan Architects is an established, award-winning practice with a 35-year heritage and specialisms that include the healthcare and disability markets. Accordingly, our architects are able to provide Expert Witness Accommodation Reports for disability (including Military Claims). They also conduct property searches and handle Building Defect work.
Find our Cowan Architects’ Expert Witness page and members of the team on LinkedIn: Dave Callin, Gavin Hill, Johanne Twentyman, Julia Hockin, David Cowan and Gary Harwin.
SERVICES:
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION NEEDS REPORTS
We are a leading provider of Accommodation Expert Witness Reports in the United Kingdom, producing over 200 reports per year. These reports deal specifically with the accommodation needs of people who have suffered injury or trauma and who are seeking compensation through the Courts.
In doing so we are governed by the requirements of the Civil Procedure Rules which set out the duties of an Expert Witness.
These are to assist the Court, to give an impartial opinion, not to make a judgement which is for the Court and to attend Court as an expert witness if required.
We regularly receive instructions from Legal 500 Firms in the areas of Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury and our experts assess accommodation needs arising from a range of disabilities including, inter alia:
Our accommodation experts are all highly regarded and whilst they work extensively across the United Kingdom, they have also travelled further afield to countries including Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and the United States. We have offices in West Sussex, London and Ireland.
THE EXPERTS AT COWAN ARCHITECTS
Resulting from the Practice’s specialisation in Residential and Healthcare projects, a number of our Architects act as Expert Witnesses in the High Court. This entails visiting Claimants in their homes, assessing their current and future housing needs together with the adaptations needed to make their current or future home fully accessible. A number of our experts are also able to prepare reports in relation to building defect cases.
Research into alternative accommodation is also frequently necessary and we work closely with the Claimant, their case managers, deputies and occupational therapists to ensure that the appropriate environment is provided.
Cowan Architects has a rolling programme of commissions to work with Claimants after the settlement of their case, using the expertise within the practice to design accommodation to meet their specific needs.
We have completed numerous private home conversions, as well as new-build properties for people with learning and physical difficulties.
MILITARY CLAIMS
Cowan’s Military Accommodation Experts can support injured ex-servicemen and women in providing a living environment that will help them re-build their lives.
Cowan Architects has a team of accommodation experts that can assess any individual and ensure that their housing needs are met both creatively and empathetically.
At a time when they feel most inadequate and vulnerable, these servicemen and women are then asked to deal with a complex legal system that assesses, decides and allocates funding. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme can be limited in its application and a civil claim takes time to conclude. A critical part of being able to rebuild a life is to be able to live in a house that is a home. It must be practical, functional and above all, an area of comfort and support for now and the longer term.
Cowan Architects has decades of experience in the legal compensation system. Their architects form part of case management teams that help injured parties through rehabilitation and care.
SEARCH FOR SUITABLE PROPERTIES
With over 35 years’ experience of designing accessible accommodation for people with a wide range of disabilities we have an in-depth knowledge of which properties lend themselves well to adaptation and alteration. With an average of 15 adaptation projects a year we have an expertise in the field that allows us to help find, design and adapt accommodation to meet the specific needs of our clients.
