HIGH RISE FACELIFT COMPLETED ON CHARLEMONT FARM ESTATE
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An £8 million facelift to four high-rise blocks in West Bromwich is now complete.
Tenants living in Beaconview, Broome, Stanton and Sheapcoate Houses on Charlemont Farm have seen their homes transformed over a two year period.
External improvements including new roofs, insulated cladding, windows and balcony doors have given the blocks a new lease of life.
Internally each flat has new electrical wiring, heating and ventilation systems and a new front door.
Four top floor flats have been completely refurbished and eight new flats created in redundant ground floor areas.
Lovell has worked with the council's urban high-rise team to carry out the work.
Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell's cabinet member for regeneration, visiting the blocks, said the work has transformed the look of the Charlemont Farm area.
He said: "These improvements have made a massive impact on both the external and internal appearances of the blocks.
"The much-improved insulation provided by the eye-catching external cladding and the new energy-efficient windows will help tenants in lowering their fuel bills.
And the landscaping around the blocks has given the whole area a boost"
Carl Yale, partnering manager for Lovell in the Midlands, said: "The results look fantastic. The scale of the works, inside and outside, was such that it took careful project management and constnt communication with residents.
"We certainly faced some challenges along the way but working closely with the Sandwell Council's urban design high-rise team, together we were able to complete a project that has made a real positive change to the lives of the residents.
"All tenants we have spoken to in the 136 existing flats have been delighted with the work, not least because they have seen their heating bills drop dramatically."
Sandwell is refurbishing seven high-rise blocks.
Three blocks at The Crofts in Smethwick are being refurbished by Keepmoat under an £11 million scheme in addition to these four at Charlemont Farm.
The council is also spending £50 million on a package of internal improvements which will see 6,000 homes upgraded.
Improvements include new kitchens, bathrooms, central heating systems and electrical rewiring plus external works such as repairing roofs and windows where necessary.
This work is being carried out by Lovell, Vinci Facilities and Wates Living Space.
As well as delivering physical improvements to people's homes, the partnership is also investing in community-based projects that are making a real and long lasting difference to the communities they are working in.