Highfield Towers. Credit: Google
(Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sebastian Mann)
The council aims to ensure the “continued safety” of its homes and that they adhere to the Building Safety Act 2022, which was passed following the fatal Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.
The works are “complex” and may be “disruptive” for residents, the council has warned.
They will be “difficult to design and manage” and a “significant amount of effort will need to be focused on resident communications and liaison,” according to a report published this week.
The ten towers include Elizabeth House, Mountbatten House, Victoria House, Edinburgh House, Uphavering House, Parkview House, Overstand House, Kipling Towers and Dryden Towers.
Workers will install sprinklers, connected to back-up systems, and new LD1 fire alarms in the buildings.
New ventilation systems, firestopping, and automatic opening vents will be installed throughout each tower. Non-compliant spandrels and window infill panels will be replaced and vertical shunt ducts will be removed where they breach certain standards.
The renovations are scheduled to begin on 3rd April next year and will last until 4th May 2027. The council says its “tight timeline” relies on a number of factors running smoothly.
The first stage of the plan will go before top councillors next week for final approval. After the council has procured a contractor to complete the works, it will then need to seek approval for the works to formally begin.
Some £7.5m will be spent on Highfield Tower, a 16-storey tall block home to 76 households.
Replacing the rainproof cladding will improve fire safety but also better the building’s insulation, which the council says could lead to lower energy bills. It was installed in the 1990s and is showing signs of wear and tear.
Work is slated to start on 13th April next year. It will take longer than a year, with the council currently aiming to be finished by 14th March 2027.
The council says it is “essential” the works are completed, to both fulfill its duties as a responsible landlord but also avoid fines for non-compliance.
Each ‘building safety case’ – documents describing the current fire-safety measures, as per the Building Safety Act – recommended repairs and improvements to each respective tower.
A decision on the first stage of the plans will be made at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 9th April. It is likely to be approved.
