windows and associated works refurbishment project
The City of London Corporation is investing £29 million in the Golden Lane Estate to carry out repair works. In May 2023, members of its Community and Children’s Services Committee agreed the funding, which includes the refurbishment of windows, roofing, heating, ventilation, insulation, and redecoration works across all blocks on the housing estate.
The upgrades are part of the City Corporation’s Housing Major Works Programme, which includes the installation of new fire doors and sprinklers, with lighting, signage, and accessible routes upgraded.
The City Corporation is aware that climate action is required to counteract the impacts of a changing planet. The City of London Corporation is committed to reducing its contribution to the factors that cause climate change and adapting to the impact of a changing climate. As a result, our works on Golden Lane will deliver the highest standard, climate friendly refurbishments to the estate.
CoL Windows Project website
The windows project website has recently been updated (May 2024) with a view to making the site easier to navigate and information easier to find. The PR company YourShout organises two Resident Liaison Groups (RLG) – one for Crescent House, the other for the Wider Estate. Meeting summaries for both groups are on the website. You can also contact the project team by emailing GoldenLane@yourshout.org or calling 0800 955 1042 during office hours.
GLERA, RLGs and our local councillors have all called for more information as to the likely costs for leaseholders, with specific detail on the elements which are rechargeable. Based on the latest programme update (see below) GLERA will be asking to see the scope of works and schedule of costs as soon as they are available.
There is an active residents group in Crescent House, and the GLERA liaision is Gaby Robertshaw. If you live in Crescent House and would like to make contact with the group email secretary.glera@gmail.com and your email will be forwarded.
latest updates
CRESCENT HOUSE
From where we are now to starting on siteThe Project Team are currently preparing documents for the two stage tender process and anticipate issuing the Stage 1, Expression of Interest (EOI) at the beginning of July. It should then take around 4 months to complete both Stage 1 and Stage 2, Invitation to Tender (ITT), and evaluate the final shortlist.
The final shortlist of at least two bids, along with estimated costs for the recoverable elements of the works, will be included in the statutory Section 20 leaseholder consultation process.
At the end of the 35 day Section 20 consultation, a report on the outcome of the procurement exercise will be produced. This will then be presented to Children and Community Services (CCS) Committee recommending an award of contract.
The report must be available to members two weeks in advance of the meeting. The Project Team have earmarked the January 2025 committee which means the report will need to be finalised before Christmas 2024.
City of London recoverable costs (recharges to leaseholders)
The Quantity Surveyor is currently working on estimated cost budgets and as part of that work will produce a cost schedule which will be passed to the City of London Corporation Legal Department for an opinion as to what elements are recoverable from leaseholders. A report will then be presented to CCS Committee for approval, hopefully at the July meeting.
Once the decision has been made on which elements are recoverable and the tender process complete the Project Manager will then present a schedule of those estimated costs to the Home Ownership team who will then deduct any abatements and apply each leaseholder’s dwelling % in order to arrive at the individual estimated costs for the Section 20 notice.
CoL Windows Project website
THE WIDER ESTATE
Phase two of the project to revitalise Golden Lane Estate takes in the Grade II listed buildings of Cullum Welch House, Stanley Cohen House and the Maisonette blocks (Basterfield House, Bayer House, Bowater House, Cuthbert Harrowing and Hatfield House).
An empty flat in each block type has been identified as a proto-pilot project so that the same Crescent House windows refurbishment team have the opportunity to work on all the different window types and inform strategy for the works. The frames will be refurbished, solutions for installing trickle vents explored, strategies developed as to how to reduce impact on residents when works take place, etc.
Cullum Welch House will be the first to undergo refurbishment, followed by Stanley Cohen and then the Maisonette Blocks. The works will be staggered, not sequential, and the Project Team are also looking at the feasibility of undertaking roof works separately from the windows refurbishment, potentially speeding up that element of the programme.
CoL Windows Project website