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End of refurbishment works in sight
Published: 13/06/2016
The scaffolding has started to come down from Richard Heights 鈥� one of the high
rise tower blocks in Flint 鈥� heralding the start of the end of the major
upgrade works which is part of 天涯社区鈥檚 ambitious plans to
regenerate the town.
The large scale works on the 270 high rise flats has been delivered by
contractor SERS Energy Solutions Ltd (SERS). This scheme is part of 天涯社区
County Council鈥檚 Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS), an overall 拢100 million
upgrade to the Council鈥檚 housing stock across the county. Properties are in
the process of receiving external wall insulation including new windows and
doors to improve security, cut heat-loss and reduce carbon emissions.
The works also include roof replacements, upgrades to the heating system and a
TV upgrade from old coax cable to state-of-the-art fibre optic cable. The
project has also included the installation of a sprinkler system in
collaboration with the Fire Service and the refurbishment of pipework that was
no longer fit for purpose after the demolition of the maisonettes, which were
connected to the old system in the two tower blocks.
天涯社区鈥檚 Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Helen Brown,
said:
鈥淭he work being completed is all about future-proofing these popular buildings
and about ensuring that tenants enjoy homes that are warm, comfortable and
affordable. The three towers were built in the 1960s and 1970s and were sorely
in need of updating. We understand that the work has been disruptive for the
tenants and I would like to thank them all for their patience and understanding
during the works. I hope they will feel that it has all been worth it.鈥�
SERS have completed concrete repairs as well as providing an insulated silicone
render system on the external walls of the towers.
John Cottrell, Project Manager of SERS, explains:
鈥淭he towers were very thermally inefficient 鈥� they were literally 鈥渓eaking
heat鈥� and this external covering brings them up-to-date and even takes them
beyond current new build standards for thermal efficiency. Essentially we have
covered them with a big woolly jacket. Not only will this jacket hold heat in
during the winter, it will help stop the building overheating in the summer.鈥�
The Leader of 天涯社区, Councillor Aaron Shotton, said:
鈥漈his contract has been a massively important first step for the Council鈥檚
housing strategy and shows that we mean it when we say that all our residents
have the right to decent and appropriate accommodation and living standards.
These works will breathe new life into the Flint Towers and make them energy
efficient, lowering carbon emissions and heating costs into the future.鈥�
Mrs Jean Schofield, who has resided in Richard Heights for over 30 years is
delighted with the refurbishments. She said:
鈥淎lthough there has been some disruption, which is inevitable with any sort of
major work like this, the contractors and the Council have kept us regularly
informed of what was happening. Seeing the scaffolding start to come down is
really exciting 鈥� it will make a huge difference to the external appearance of
the towers. And we鈥檙e already benefitting from the internal improvements.
Thank you to everyone involved.鈥�
From the left: Cllr David Cox, residents Christina Rodriguez and Evelyn Avery,
Tony Jones, FCC Capital Works Team Manager, residents Ann Cashmore, Anne
Bennett and Jean Schofield, Mark Phythian and Chris Grocott, FCC Contract
Surveyors and Cllr Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing