Construction News
13/03/2024
Council Flats Benefit From £25m Energy Improvement Scheme
With a £25 million energy efficiency improvements scheme in place, numerous council flats in Leeds are set for a future focused on cutting carbon emissions and saving money.
Energy and regeneration specialist Equans began work in late 2022 on the transformation of seven tower blocks as part of Leeds City Council's drive to deliver high-quality homes while also tackling fuel poverty and the climate emergency.
Residents are now benefiting from the improvements, which have been completed at six of the blocks – Parkway Court, Parkway Grange and Parkway Towers in Seacroft and Lovell Park Grange, Lovell Park Heights and Lovell Park Towers in Little London.
The work – which has included the reroofing of buildings and the installation of new external wall insulation and ventilation systems – will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat individual flats.
This in turn will allow residents in the 600-plus flats across the seven blocks to enjoy cheaper fuel bills while also cutting the city's carbon emissions.
The average annual energy costs for each flat are expected to halve, while the amount of CO2 being produced by the average property is predicted to drop by around a third.
The external appearance of the tower blocks has also been enhanced with the addition of new rendering and fittings.
Work at the seventh block, Moor Grange Court in West Park, is due to finish in the next few months.
The scheme as a whole received £9.6m from central government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, with the rest of the cost being met by the council.
It forms part of a wider £100m programme of council-led work across Leeds, with large numbers of buildings having already received or due to receive energy-saving upgrades to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and combat fuel poverty.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: "Reducing Leeds's carbon footprint is a priority for the council, but it’s important that this is done in a fair way that also helps improve standards of living in all our local communities.
"The benefits of such an approach are perfectly demonstrated by the changes at these flats in Seacroft, Little London and West Park, where emissions and energy bills are both set to be significantly reduced.
"The scheme is also testament to the power of partnership working, with Equans playing a vital role alongside the council in bringing about a bright new era for the properties and everyone living there."
Energy and regeneration specialist Equans began work in late 2022 on the transformation of seven tower blocks as part of Leeds City Council's drive to deliver high-quality homes while also tackling fuel poverty and the climate emergency.
Residents are now benefiting from the improvements, which have been completed at six of the blocks – Parkway Court, Parkway Grange and Parkway Towers in Seacroft and Lovell Park Grange, Lovell Park Heights and Lovell Park Towers in Little London.
The work – which has included the reroofing of buildings and the installation of new external wall insulation and ventilation systems – will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat individual flats.
This in turn will allow residents in the 600-plus flats across the seven blocks to enjoy cheaper fuel bills while also cutting the city's carbon emissions.
The average annual energy costs for each flat are expected to halve, while the amount of CO2 being produced by the average property is predicted to drop by around a third.
The external appearance of the tower blocks has also been enhanced with the addition of new rendering and fittings.
Work at the seventh block, Moor Grange Court in West Park, is due to finish in the next few months.
The scheme as a whole received £9.6m from central government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, with the rest of the cost being met by the council.
It forms part of a wider £100m programme of council-led work across Leeds, with large numbers of buildings having already received or due to receive energy-saving upgrades to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and combat fuel poverty.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: "Reducing Leeds's carbon footprint is a priority for the council, but it’s important that this is done in a fair way that also helps improve standards of living in all our local communities.
"The benefits of such an approach are perfectly demonstrated by the changes at these flats in Seacroft, Little London and West Park, where emissions and energy bills are both set to be significantly reduced.
"The scheme is also testament to the power of partnership working, with Equans playing a vital role alongside the council in bringing about a bright new era for the properties and everyone living there."
29/01/2025
Caddick Construction has been awarded a £43 million contract to deliver the first phase of Cole Waterhouse's flagship regeneration scheme in Digbeth, Birmingham.
The project, known as Upper Trinity Street, marks a significant step in the area’s transformation.
Spanning 182,986 square feet, the re
29/01/2025
McLaren Construction has been appointed by O&H Properties to deliver the first phase of a £60 million Foster & Partners-designed development at the corner of New Bond Street and Grafton Street in London’s West End.
The seven-storey, 5,400 square metre prime retail and office scheme will feature ret
29/01/2025
GMI Construction Group has been awarded a contract to develop three high-specification warehouse units totalling over 175,000 square feet at Precedent Drive, Milton Keynes.
The £20 million project, commissioned by DV5 Last Mile Developments (UK) Ltd, a joint venture between Coltham and Delancey Re
29/01/2025
Plans for 106 sustainable new homes in Southville, a neighbourhood in South Bristol, have been approved as the city seeks to increase housing delivery to address growing demand.
Top 10 award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group will create a £60 million development on Raleigh Road, on land that was
29/01/2025
Bouygues UK has reached a major milestone in the fourth phase of the Hallsville Quarter regeneration project in Canning Town, London.
The project, part of the £3.7 billion Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme, recently held a topping out ceremony, marking the completion of the 11-s
29/01/2025
Willmott Dixon Interiors is carrying out a significant upgrade to the roof of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, one of London's most iconic cultural landmarks.
As part of the £12 million project, the company is installing over 23,000 square feet of sun-protected glazing above the museum’s
29/01/2025
Equans has been appointed by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils to carry out crucial decarbonisation work across the councils' housing stock, using funding secured through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
The councils used the South East Consortium's Zero Carbon Framework to s
29/01/2025
In the world of construction, the quest for energy efficiency and sustainability is ever-evolving. Among the array of solutions available, EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) insulation stands out as a versatile and effective option for enhancing the thermal performance of buildings, particularly when used f
29/01/2025
BCP Council has completed significant coastal protection works at Hamworthy Park, ensuring its resilience against erosion for the next 20 years.
A 200-metre stretch of sea wall along the eastern promenade has been reinforced using low-carbon concrete, while new steps have been constructed to improv
29/01/2025
Geo-environmental consultancy and remediation contractor, The LK Group, has strengthened its team with a trio of recruits.
The multidisciplinary company's latest raft of hires comprises a new director, associate director and remediation manager.
The geo-environmental specialist, headquartered i