Grays High Rise Refurbishment

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Consultation has concluded

Over the next 24 months Thurrock Council are planning to fully externally refurbish the nine high rise tower blocks that are located in South Grays and Blackshots. These works are part of a planned programme to prolong the life of the blocks and also improve thermal efficiency.

The works comprise of a complete upgrade of the external wall system that is currently in place on the blocks. The roofs of the blocks will be replaced, the insulation upgraded, a new canopy will be fitted to the entrance of the blocks and, as a further improvement to the thermal efficiency, the current uPVC windows will also be replaced with double glazed aluminium windows.

We appreciate that residents will want to be fully informed of the works due to events in recent years and we can assure all residents that the works will achieve the highest safety standards.

As we cannot hold any face to face meetings at this time or visit you in your home we have set up the consultation portal here for any questions you may have about these proposals, and we will hold other consultation events once this becomes an option once more.

Please visit this page again in the future for further updates which we will be sharing.

Over the next 24 months Thurrock Council are planning to fully externally refurbish the nine high rise tower blocks that are located in South Grays and Blackshots. These works are part of a planned programme to prolong the life of the blocks and also improve thermal efficiency.

The works comprise of a complete upgrade of the external wall system that is currently in place on the blocks. The roofs of the blocks will be replaced, the insulation upgraded, a new canopy will be fitted to the entrance of the blocks and, as a further improvement to the thermal efficiency, the current uPVC windows will also be replaced with double glazed aluminium windows.

We appreciate that residents will want to be fully informed of the works due to events in recent years and we can assure all residents that the works will achieve the highest safety standards.

As we cannot hold any face to face meetings at this time or visit you in your home we have set up the consultation portal here for any questions you may have about these proposals, and we will hold other consultation events once this becomes an option once more.

Please visit this page again in the future for further updates which we will be sharing.

Consultation has concluded

You can use this section to ask any questions which you have about the plans to fully refurbish the exteriors of the nine Grays high rise tower blocks.

In order to to help us to answer your query accurately, please tell us which block you live in when you submit your question.

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    Hi I have received your letter about your planned refurbishment of the high rise blocks. There was a mention of the replacement of the windows and that current one can open fully. Will the new one be able to open fully? Also you estimated that cost of refurbishment is £20m so it's around £40000 per flat. As that is quite a lot of money,what are the council payment plans about that cost?

    leaseholder asked almost 4 years ago

    Thank you for your enquiry. 

    In regard to the opening capacity of the proposed new windows, we can advise the new windows will be fitted with a restriction device that will limit the amount that these can be opened for safety purposes. However these restrictors will have the facility where they can be released allowing the window to opened fully for cleaning and maintenance purposes. 

    With regard to your question on cost, legislation requires the Council to consult leaseholders before we carry out major works. We have started this process by serving a Notice of Intention to all applicable leaseholders. Repayment options will be available for leaseholders when the work is completed and invoiced.

    If any leaseholder affected by these works wishes to discuss this matter further please contact Homeownership@thurrock.gov.uk.

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    I am soon to be become a leaseholder and am worried about the potential cost. Will I be expected to pay upfront or will there be some form of budget scheme?

    lukesilence asked almost 4 years ago

    When you purchase a property under the Right to Buy scheme, Thurrock Council will provide an estimate of your liability for any service charges for major works during the first five years of your lease. Cost recovery is limited to the amount of this estimate for the first five years. You would be invoiced on completion of the works and repayment options are available.  If you have any further enquires in this respect please contact us at Homeownership@thurrock.gov.uk

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    Hi, just wondering what the time frame for this to start would be, once the application was ratified and where you would be starting.

    Dennis asked almost 4 years ago

    The Council anticipates that the refurbishment programme will commence in the last quarter of 2020, the full detailed programme will need to be developed with the appointed Contractors following the procurement exercise and therefore at this time we are unable to provide specific guaranteed time frames or indicate which block the programme will start in. However at this stage we anticipate that the whole programme across all nine blocks will be delivered between October 2020 and June 2022.

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    Could you estimate how long it will be before new windows are fitted?

    User asked almost 4 years ago

    The Council anticipates that the refurbishment programme will commence in the last quarter of 2020, the full detailed programme will need to be developed with the appointed Contractors following the procurement exercise and therefore at this time we are unable to provide specific guaranteed time frames. However at this stage we anticipate that the whole programme across all nine blocks will be delivered between October 2020 and June 2022.

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    What is the budget for each block?

    Davall House asked almost 4 years ago

    There is not specific budget assigned to individual blocks of flats in this programme, the entire refurbishment programmes is estimated to be in the region of £20m covering all nine tower blocks. The works will be subject to a competitive procurement exercise and it is at that stage that specific costs will be determined.