CASE STUDY
Dr Ed Hudson - A Fully Accessible Home for a Client Living with a Spinal Cord Injury
Location: Ilkeston, England
Client: Dr Ed Hudson
Injury: Spinal Cord Injury (C4/C5 tetraplegia)
Legal Team: Lesley Edwards (Head of Personal Injury) & David Tomlinson (Former Head of Personal Injury, now retired), Barratts Solicitors, Nottingham
Accommodation & Project Team: Tom Docker & Alex Jones, Steven Docker Associates
Case Manager: Katie Ryall
Rehabilitation: STEPS Rehabilitation, Sheffield
Road Traffic Collision Resulting in a Severe Spinal Cord Injury
In 2018, Dr Ed Hudson was cycling to the QMC in Nottingham, where he was working as a newly qualified doctor. He was involved in a road traffic collision and sustained a severe spinal cord injury (C4/5).
From the outset, Ed faced a complex set of challenges, including, long-term rehabilitation, managing daily life with quadriplegia, navigating specialist care needs, and planning a safe, accessible home environment. His legal team at Barratts Solicitors, alongside case manager Katie Ryall, coordinated his care, ensuring interim funding for rehabilitation and early support in finding a suitable property.
From the very early stages, SDA were instructed to provide expert accommodation solutions, initially to find and adapt a rental property for Ed to continue his rehabilitation in following his discharge from STEPS Rehabilitation, and later to design and build a fully accessible “forever home” for Ed, his partner Izzy, and their daughter Tabitha.
Early Rehabilitation
Following the accident, Ed spent two months in intensive care and five months in the Spinal Unit in Sheffield. With interim funding secured and residential rehabilitation arranged, he then moved to STEPS Rehabilitation, a private neuro-rehabilitation facility, where he was able to focus fully on his physical and emotional recovery in a purpose-built environment.
"Mentally I wasn’t in a great place and there was no privacy on the Spinal Unit. At STEPS, I finally had my own space, specialist resources and with my environment no longer being a limiting factor, I could work as hard as I wanted to work." Ed explains.
STEPS provided specialist therapies, including Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) combined with a standing frame, enabling Ed to regain as much physical function and independence as possible.
"If I could go back to my newly-injured 23-year-old self, I’d say things do get better – you just need to work hard," he adds.
Interim Housing: The Rental Property
During his stay at STEPS Rehabilitation Ed was introduced to Tom Docker, who was responsible for identifying a suitable property that could meet his ongoing care needs once he was ready to transition home. Tom met with Ed, Izzy, and Katie Ryall to gain a comprehensive understanding of his requirements, both in terms of his care and his living environment. Working closely with the SDA property-finding team, Tom played a pivotal role in sourcing a bungalow in Burton Joyce, conveniently located near his friends, family, and Izzy’s workplace.
Tom negotiated directly with the landlord to secure the tenancy of the bungalow, explaining the necessity of specific adaptations to ensure the property could fully accommodate Ed’s needs and outlining the timeframe required to complete them. He then appointed a building contractor to carry out the adaptations, ensuring the work was completed on schedule and within budget, funded through interim payments from Ed’s legal claim.
The SDA-coordinated adaptations included:
- Widening doorways for wheelchair access
- Creating level access throughout the property
- Installing a ceiling track hoist
- Converting the attached garage into a wet room off the master bedroom, with specialist bathroom equipment
- Installing external doors from the bedroom
- Converting additional space within the bungalow to provide a bedsitting room with kitchenette and shower room
- Creating a dayroom/office for Ed’s carers
- Installing suitable flooring throughout
- Constructing a canopy to provide a covered link to and from the bungalow
Designing the Forever Home
Once Ed’s legal case was settled in 2020, the search for a permanent home began. Having spent five years in the rental property, Ed and Izzy had a good understanding of exactly what they wanted from their forever home. They chose to contact Tom again, having worked with him previously. The adaptations made to the rental property had provided a practical and supportive environment, and they trusted him to help design a home that would meet their long-term needs.
SDA’s dedicated property-finding team began searching for a suitable site for Ed and Izzy’s permanent home. The brief was clear, the location needed to be relatively flat and easily adaptable, allowing for level access throughout, with sufficient space to create rooms tailored specifically to Ed’s requirements. Privacy was also a priority, with Ed keen to find a quiet, rural setting close to family.
After considering several options, the team identified a site with an existing property that could be redeveloped. Following careful consideration, the decision was made to demolish the existing building and construct a brand-new, purpose-built home designed entirely around Ed’s needs. Every aspect of the new house, from room layout to accessibility features, was bespoke, ensuring that it not only met his current requirements but could adapt to his future needs.
Throughout the process, Ed and Izzy were fully involved in every stage of the project, with ongoing dialogue ensuring that the design reflected their preferences and lifestyle. While planning delays meant the couple remained in their rental property longer than expected, this time allowed for meticulous planning and the creation of a truly personalised home.
Alex Jones, Project Manager for what became known as the Barn Farm Project, led the coordination of design and construction.
“Our focus was on giving Ed as much independence as possible and ensuring he could live with the same dignity he would have had if he hadn’t been injured. The aim was to create an environment where he could feel comfortable and relaxed and enjoy a normal family life with Izzy,” says Alex.
Key Features of the Forever Home
Steven Docker Associates incorporated a wide range of adaptations and technology to maximise Ed’s independence and quality of life:
Accessibility & Mobility
- Spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living room
- Level access throughout the property
- Through-floor lift connecting multiple floors
- Widened doorways for wheelchair access
Bathrooms & Personal Care
- Fully accessible wet room with specialist hoisting equipment
- Bespoke bathroom layouts for ease of movement and care
Therapy
- Large therapy and exercise room
Automation & Environmental Controls
- Automated doors, lighting, and internal systems
- Fully integrated home audio-visual and TV systems
- Environmental controls for temperature, lighting, and security
Sustainability & Safety
- Solar panels, heat pumps, and battery backup for energy security
- Level surfaces and clear circulation paths for safe movement
Family & Social Integration
- Private annex for carers ensuring independence and privacy
- Spacious communal areas to support family life and social activities
- Landscaped garden
Legal and Case Management Support
Barratts Solicitors played a pivotal role in securing interim funding for rehabilitation and the rental property. David Tomlinson and Lesley Edwards coordinated with insurers, STEPS, and SDA to ensure Ed’s needs were met at every stage.
"The client is always at the heart of what we do. Early collaboration with the rehabilitation team and accommodation experts ensured Ed could focus on recovery while we managed funding, care, and property adaptations," says Lesley Edwards, Barratts Solicitors.
Life in the Forever Home
Ed and Izzy got married in October 2023 and moved into their forever home in October 2024. Their daughter, Tabitha was born the following month.
“We’ve been in for eight months, but it feels like we’ve been here forever. It’s more about what I don’t have to think about now, things like temperature control are no longer an issue; the house is always the perfect temperature. I have independence, I can go where I want, when I want, with no limitations. I can spend time with Izzy and Tabitha. The limitations have disappeared. For someone living with a limiting injury, it’s freed me up to do everything I want to do, including pursuing my new career.” Says Ed.
Katie Ryall reflects:
"Seeing Ed and Izzy in their forever home shows what’s possible with specialist rehabilitation, expert accommodation support, and a strong team around the client. It’s inspiring for other clients and families facing similar challenges."
“Ed and Izzy seem to be thrilled, from their demeanour, you can tell they’re very happy and have found their forever home. It’s a really enjoyable process: we meet the client initially, learn about their circumstances and what’s needed, and then see the project through to the end. It’s so rewarding, you really see a difference in people, and that’s incredibly pleasing to witness.” – Alex Jones, SDA
Award Winning Property
Ed and Izzy’s home – Oak Holt has been recognised at the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2025 at the Regional Level for Best Individual New Home (East Midlands).
This has earned SDA a place on the shortlist for the national finals which will be held in January 2026 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
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