Three homes have now been completed in our project to refurbish 29 of our British Iron and Steel Fabrication (BISF) homes – with a further six due to be completed before Christmas.
These homes, built shortly after the Second World War, were previously upgraded around 30 years ago by Wycombe District Council, and this year we decided it was time for us to give them a new lease of life so they can provide much-needed homes for another 40-50 years!
Upgrades to the homes include:
- New wall insulation, which will help lower heating costs and reduce energy use
- Cladding to the first-floor level of the homes, with a brick slip at ground-floor level individually fixed and pointed up
- Upgrading the structural steelwork where required
- New roof over the main house and outhouse
- Removal of chimneys
- New double-glazed windows
- New composite doors to replace timber external doors
- New fascia, soffits, gutters and downpipes
- New canopies over front door.
Keens Close - before
Keens Close - during
Keens Close - after
Work began on the two pilot homes in Keens Close in spring 2021 and now been extended to Hardenwaye, Walton Drive, Keens Close, and The Quadrant, High Wycombe.
The homes now have a totally new look and feel. Peter Griffiths, project manager at Red Kite, said:
“Once the tenants have got over how great their homes now look they will quickly see how energy-efficient they are too. We hope this will mean a reduction in their energy costs.
“One of the great things about this project has been that tenants were able to stay in their homes while the work was carried out. Temporary roofs were installed, meaning the homes were safe to live in. This saved a lot of upheaval for families and helped us to reduce costs too.”
“We have also had feedback from private owners wishing to buy into the programme as they would also like their properties upgraded!”
FSG Property Services Ltd, our appointed contractor, are now working on the remaining homes and it is hoped these will all be completed by summer 2022.