Wates Living Space has been appointed by The Guinness Partnership to deliver maintenance work on two high-rise schemes worth £7m
This appointment takes the housing maintenance provider’s total number of tower block refurbishment projects to over 200.
The contracts total £7m and will include high-quality timber aluminium window replacements at the 13-storey Waverley Court in Crewe, as well as fire risk assessment works including a new sprinkler system, fire alarm and fire doors at the Grade II-listed India House building in Manchester city centre.
Planned and responsive maintenance
Works at India House will also see Wates deliver essential roof repairs, new decoration and carpets in the communal area in addition to remodelling the ground floor to create eight new apartments.
These contracts are the latest projects delivered by Wates for Guinness, following the successful award of façade repairs and balcony redecoration to four high rise tower blocks in Woolton.
These latest projects bolster Wates Living Space’s portfolio of more than 200 tower block properties nationwide and its wealth of experience in the delivery of planned and responsive maintenance to high rise buildings.
This includes 59 projects on behalf of Birmingham City Council, such as the transformation of Barry Jackson Court, a disused 20-storey tower block, into temporary accommodation for 160 families.
Wates Living Space worked in partnership with Birmingham City Council to deliver the refurbishment, which included installing sprinkler systems, fire lifts, wet and dry risers, automatic opening ventilators, smoke extraction systems and automatic door actuators.
Wates was also responsible for the £7.2m external refurbishment of one of West London’s most prominent residential tower blocks, Trellick Tower. Wates Living Space carried out repairs, renovation and the replacement of concrete exterior panelling and 1,000 windows.
Investment in safety
David Morgan, executive managing director, Wates Property Services, said: “Our latest contract with The Guinness Partnership further strengthens our impressive portfolio of improvement works to high rise buildings.
“Investment in tower block maintenance and fire safety has never been more important and to be entrusted with this by clients across the country demonstrates our teams’ expertise in carrying out complex compliance contracts.
“Much of the work to residential tower blocks is understandably urgent and sensitive for residents and our priority is always to ensure regular communication and to keep disruption to a minimum.
“We’re looking forward to starting work in Crewe and Manchester and to further build on our credibility in the delivery of high-rise projects.”
