How Crendon helped bring a specialist healthcare facility to life

Delivering a new healthcare unit for people with learning disabilities and autism takes more than meeting design targets; it requires careful coordination, technical precision, and a clear understanding of how the built environment supports patient care.

That was the brief at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish, where a £15 million specialist facility was being developed by Kier Construction for the Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

The building’s roof structure, spanning multiple pitched and flat sections, needed to be robust, carefully detailed, and easy to build on a live site with tight sequencing.

Jamie Underwood, Senior Designer at Crendon Timber Engineering, led the roof design, working with his team to deliver a fully coordinated timber solution. Their work not only kept the build on track but also helped shape a calm, functional space for long-term clinical care.

The project has since been recognised with the Commercial Project of the Year title at the 2025 Roofscape Design Awards.

About the project

The unit sits on a footprint of just under 50 by 60 metres and is made up of four duo-pitched roofs, linked by a series of flat and pitched sections. The roof design had to slot seamlessly into a carefully phased programme while working around a mixed structure and a range of interface points.

Crendon supplied a combination of posi-rafters, raised tie trusses, solid timber ceiling joists and Glulam valley beams, designed to meet both performance requirements and sequencing constraints. With multiple trades relying on clear alignment and efficient install, accuracy was important.

Getting the details right

From early on, the team picked up on potential coordination risks. One example was the vapour control membrane, which wasn’t in Crendon’s supply package but needed to pass cleanly through their roof zones. Rather than ignore it, the team flagged it in their drawings – a small adjustment that helped prevent errors and delays on site.

The design also called for separate ceiling joists and posi-rafters, which added complexity around uplift, restraint and fixing.

Jamie and his colleagues resolved this through a clear, well-sequenced system of framing anchors, inverted truss clips and double wall plates, with precise plate levels documented across the package. That clarity helped the site team move confidently through install, even when working around structural steel.

Designed with safety in mind

Working at height was unavoidable on this project, so the team focused on reducing risk from the outset. That started in the factory: noggins and firrings were pre-cut to reduce on-site handling and dust. Materials were delivered on a tight schedule to avoid clutter and limit manual movement on site.

Before the posi-rafters were installed, the ceiling joists were ply-decked, creating a stable platform to work from. Jamie also made sure service voids were capped as joists went in which was a practical step that reduced fall risks without slowing down the programme.

Efficiency and sustainability

Although some of the steelwork had already been specified before Crendon joined the project, the team still looked for opportunities to simplify the build. That meant using repeated details and component types wherever possible, which helped with both factory output and installation speed.

This approach sits alongside Crendon’s wider sustainability goals. The company uses PEFC-certified timber, has installed solar PV across its sites, and is investing in electric forklifts and fleet vehicles.

Each project is seen as a chance to reduce waste and deliver smarter, lower-carbon solutions.

The project team and delivery

The roof design was led by Jamie, working alongside colleagues in estimating, contracts, and site carpentry. Drawings were developed using MiTek Pamir and AutoCAD, giving the team the tools to model, adjust and finalise designs quickly as the build progressed.

Close communication with Kier and other subcontractors was key. Regular check-ins meant any issues were dealt with early, and when inevitable changes came in late, Crendon responded without compromising quality or clarity.

Crendon said:

“This was a technically demanding project, and we knew from the start that getting the details right would be important. Our team brought experience, clear thinking and strong coordination to the table, and it paid off.

“Being recognised with this award confirms the value of what we do, but more than that, it reflects the strength of collaboration between everyone involved. We’re proud of the result and proud to have played a part in delivering such an important building.”