Largest council estate improvement scheme completed by SKDC

The keys to the last of 119 refurbished homes on Grantham’s Earlesfield Estate have been handed over to SKDC by contractor United Living.

Speaking at the handover of the final property at Ivatt Court, SKDC’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Virginia Moran, said: “This is the biggest renovation project in one area that we have ever completed. The size and scale has been huge.

“The level of performance in delivery for our tenants, coming in on budget and on time, has been amazing by all concerned.”

The £6m project saw 77 full heating systems replaced; 102 full rewires completed; 95 new kitchens fitted; 87 full bath/shower sets installed, and 96 separate downstairs toilets added.

In addition, 107 front doors and 110 rear doors were replaced; 120 properties had full window replacements and asbestos was cleared from 109 homes.

More than 100 had lofts made fire resistant and 117 homes were fitted with new loft insulation.

Extractor fans were fitted to combat damp and mould in 106 properties.

Stock condition surveys saw some extra work added, such as providing new windows, doors or heating systems that were due for replacement within five years. This was to reduce future inconvenience to tenants.

Cllr Moran said: “These properties were built after the Second World War as temporary accommodation yet have stood the test of time. Providing good quality, sustainable accommodation suitable for the tenants’ needs is a priority for us, so we’ve invested to effectively bring brand-new homes in old shells that meet the Decent Homes standard.”

The project saw almost 100 households temporarily rehomed, using ten vacant properties on the estate on a rolling programme, to allow the work to take place.

“The final families are now returning to these Earlesfield homes – homes that the estate and our tenants can take pride in, and it’s thanks to considerable investment,” said Cllr Moran.

Dave Platts, Site Manager with United Living, said: “We’ve been on site for 2½ years in what has been a huge and a rewarding project.

“These properties, for instance, are now asbestos-free, have new kitchens, new bathrooms and are homes for the 21st Century.

“We hope that the tenants will love living in them.”

The council has a clear commitment in its Corporate Plan 2024-2027 to ensure that all residents can access housing that is safe, good quality, sustainable and suitable for their needs and those of future generations.