Modern multi-story residential building with multiple balconies and large windows, set against a clear blue sky.

 

As part of Neighbourhood Services ongoing strategy, refurbishment work to Hackwood, Wallace and Harry Price Houses has now been completed on the Lion Farm Estate in Oldbury.

The Wimpey no-fines concrete panel blocks, constructed in 1963, contain a total of 210 two bedroom flats.

The objective of this project has been to reduce fuel poverty, improve health and wellbeing of the tenants, provide a very low maintenance scheme giving the blocks an additional at least 30 years life and to provide support and encouragement to the area and community as a whole including small and large businesses supplying labour and goods and helping charitable groups.

Design measures included:
  • Concrete panel repairs.
  • Over cladding of the blocks with mineral wool insulation and rainscreen cladding to improve the thermal efficiency.
  • Replacement of single glazed windows with double glazed tilt and turn aluminium/timber composite windows.
  • New balcony doors and balcony upgrade.
  • Demolition of redundant storage sheds at ground floor level to give future provision for the construction of new flats.
  • Extensive fire stopping measures including new smoke alarms and heat detectors.
  • Installation of fire resistant doors and screens to all floor levels.
  • New insulated pitched roofs to cover the existing flat roofs.
  • New front entrance lobbies with secure key fob door entry systems.
  • Additional external CCTV cameras throughout together with cameras located within the internal entrance lobby areas.
  • Upgrade of street lighting.
  • Landscape works including additional car parking spaces.