Published Date: Aug 28th, 2024
Councillors in Levenmouth have agreed a series of mitigation actions to support tenants as improvement work to two blocks of high-rise flats in Methil progresses.
Fife Council is investing £7 million at Swan and Memorial Courts following recommendations made in a consultants’ report last year, and a project update has been given to the Levenmouth Area Committee.
Improvements include internal fire stopping work to communal and tenanted areas in both blocks; the replacement of external wall insulation; the replacement of older kitchens and bathrooms; and the upgrade of existing heating systems to improved, energy efficient and cost-effective electric heating systems.
As with any housing improvement programme, tenants will inevitably face some disruption over a limited period. In this case, the contractors on site will be working for a period of 18 months to two years causing more disturbance than a normal improvement project.
To that end, Area Committee members have now approved a range of measures to mitigate the disturbance for tenants.
They include:
- Disturbance allowance of £1,500 per property which will be paid in three instalments of £500, while tenants will also have access to fuel poverty payments while external cladding removal work goes on
- Two daytime decants which will be available to book for any residents who would prefer to remove themselves from their property while work is ongoing
- The possibility of two night-time decants for tenants who work a nightshift
- Additional drop-in sessions in tenants’ lounges.
Councillor Judy Hamilton, spokesperson for Fife Council’s Housing and Building Services, said: “Improving the fire safety of our tower blocks in Fife and the safety of our tenants and residents is paramount, and it made perfect sense for us to take this opportunity while completing the cladding work to upgrade these tower blocks.
“We acknowledge there may be a short-term impact for tenants and that’s why we’ve brought forward these mitigating measures, but the long-term benefits of this investment cannot be underestimated.
“Providing high quality, energy efficient affordable homes will not only improve the health and wellbeing of tenants and reduce fuel poverty within the blocks, but this programme of works will also make a positive contribution to the Council’s refreshed Climate Plan and the Local Housing Strategy by improving the energy efficiency to the EESSH2/Net Zero standard.”
The Council’s Tower Block Review Group (TBRG) has met on a regular basis since last September to guide and take forward the development of the programme of works for all the proposed improvements to the flats.
The TBRG is multi-service in nature, led by the Head of Housing with support from Building Services, Property Services, Corporate Health and Safety and Protective Services.
Consultation with council tenants has occurred mainly through tenant newsletters, drop-in sessions arranged in tenants’ lounges; individual discussions with tenants, and tenant visits to two show flats (one in Swan Court and one in Memorial Court) to discuss component replacement.
Councillor Colin Davidson, convener of the Levenmouth Area Committee, said: “This is a significant project to deliver what is a complete package of works and improvements to these blocks at Swan and Memorial Court.
“I’d just like to pay tribute to all the staff involved, as the communication with tenants throughout has been second-to-none.
“This is a complex issue that has been dealt with in a very, very professional way, and the concierge staff have been a source of positive assurance for tenants that the works will be happening and that they will be kept up to date from start to finish.”
Notes:
Consultants commissioned by the Council to evaluate work by contractors carrying improvement works to fire stopping at Swan and Memorial Court in Methil made a series of recommendations which the local authority is acting swiftly upon as a precaution.
The consultants’ report suggested that the use of Phenolic Tile External Wall Insulation (EWI), coupled with a lack of fire breaks in the buildings, potentially poses a higher risk, although the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it has well established operational procedures in place which can implemented in the event of a fire.
However, to fully mitigate the risks identified by the consultants and reassure Council tenants, Fife Council committed to taking pro-active steps and will remove the existing EWI and replace it with a mineral wool-based EWI system as soon as practicable and improve the energy efficiency of the blocks to the current Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing. This will make the flats warmer and will cost less for tenants to run their heating.
