The design of the apartments and choice of components have been geared to empower residents facing mobility issues, learning disabilities or mental health problems. The scheme underlines the Association's aim of providing accommodation that includes the care and support needed by clients so they can live with a high level of independence and social inclusion within their local communities. This was a requirement that Comelit was able to meet using its Simplehome home automation system.

Door entry at the main gate features a Comelit Ikall metal entrance panel connected to the building over an IP network. The panel has a colour camera and a two-way speaker unit and is modular in design with components such as Mifare readers and numerical keypads that can easily be added as a site or phased project develops, or the door entry needs at the building change.

Each apartment will be fitted with an Icona Manager monitor that combines Comelit’s VIP door entry functions with the latest in home automation. The slim-line, surface or flush-mounted unit features a 4.3” touchscreen display, with gesture recognition for easy menu navigation.

A key function for users in supported housing is the setting on the Icona Manager whereby residents can opt temporarily to allow health workers to grant themselves access automatically without interaction at the monitor. Other safety features and benefits of the home automation system include flood detectors and heat sensors that trigger an input on the system, sending an alarm immediately to staff, plus heating and ventilation controls in individual apartments that will help manage electricity consumption. Managers at the complex will also be able to use SimpleHome to remotely disconnect and control power sockets at certain times of the day within individual apartments.

Primarily, family and staff will use the wall-mounted Icona Manager monitors to control the system. However, an important element of the installation is that all residents will have the use of a third-party smart tablet device from which they can control video door entry, call for emergency assistance and manage core home automation functions, such as heating and lighting control.

Mike Campbell, Business Development Manager at Comelit Group UK, said: "If tenants are wheelchair-users or have mobility issues, then the ability to control door entry, configure home automation and call for warden assistance, all from a tablet on their lap, is invaluable.

"However, the project is a delicate mix. It's about giving residents control of their living space; but at certain times of day when use of a particular domestic appliance might be inappropriate, power to specific sockets will be switched off."

He continued: "There will be an emphasis on independence and fine-tuning for individual needs, but managers at the complex can use Simplehome to exercise control of core features such as central heating and ventilation on behalf of the residents if required."