France+Associates are experts in inclusive design, and act as both expert witnesses to assess the suitability of property for disabled persons and offer substantial practical experience to design homes for people with disabilities.
France+Associates are a well-established, award-winning architectural practice, regulated by the RICS and registered with the CIAT.
France+Associates are recognised as a trusted partner by national legal firms in the UK to act on behalf of their clients.
France+Associates are appointed by insurers, barristers, charities and law firms on a national basis.
Services
Our full range of services ensure that each claimant/client is fully covered in their needs:
Expert Witness
France+Associates will consider all available evidence in medical, care and therapy reports in order to determine whether the Claimant’s current property is suitable for their present needs and adaptation. This includes undertaking research in the locality to establish what type of property will be suitable if the existing property is found to not be suitable based on the recommendations provided by medical, care and therapy experts.
Property Finding
France+Associates are experienced in identifying development potential in buildings that others would miss and will help clients and their advisers to find a suitable property effectively and efficiently.
We identify suitable properties in accordance with various experts recommendations and will visit as many properties as necessary detailing the pros and cons of each.
Our excellent network of agents and developers keeps us up to date on market changes and streamlines our property-finding service.
Suitability, Feasibility & Finance
France+Associates provide reports that outline the suitability of a property, with clearly explained feasibility drawings and costs included to highlight the adaptations to take place to the building, as well as any risk related to planning and other statutory consents. Our extensive experience means we can also identify any potential long-term problems and propose cost-effective solutions as part of the adaptation process.
Created in line with design guidance, a feasibility report will include information, drawings and sometimes 3D models to show how a building will look and work, inside and out.
At France+Associates, we will help all we can to give all stakeholders clear costing information as far in advance as possible. Our costs are always based on drawings and specifications.
Statutory Consent and Contract Administration
France+Associates has an excellent reputation for steering challenging applications through the planning system, having worked successfully on securing consent for large multipurpose sites in greenbelt and conservation areas, complex or listed buildings and many individual homes.
Once consent is in place, France+Associates will manage a project through to completion on site and will guide stakeholders through the complex process of contract administration. The key to a successful project is good communication and compliance. At France + Associates, we’re thorough, clear and easy to work with at all times.
Our Experts
Jonathan France
Richard Grota
Mr Jonathan France, Dip FCIAT AssocRICS and Mr Richard Grota, MCIAT Chartered Architectural Technologist, provide accommodation needs reports for litigation purposes associated with future accommodation needs for severely disabled persons.
These reports are prepared to Part 35 standards according to Civil Procedure Rules for litigation purposes and are usually as a result of a Claimant suffering catastrophic injuries due to clinical, medical negligence or personal injury.
Both Mr France and Mr Grota are independent Experts and receive instructions directly from Solicitors, acting on behalf of Claimant or Defendant, and have also been instructed as a single joint expert.
A visit will be made to the Claimant in their own home environment to assess all aspects of their disability needs and limitations, which may include aspects such as considering forms of access in, around and outside the property, as well as live-in carers and their accommodation.
Following the above assessment and considerations, thereafter a detailed accommodation needs report will be prepared outlining the suitability of the existing property and if it is not suitable, the type of appropriate property the individual will require, along with purchase cost, cost of adaptations and any further associated costs. The report is then disclosed to the instructing Solicitor and our involvement will remain through the general litigation process of conference with counsel, joint meetings and trial.
