Extensive Modernisation Work to Transform Homes in Acton

An extensive modernisation project is set to transform council tenants homes and help lower their energy costs.

Over the next few months 92 steel framed ‘cubbitt’ houses in Acton are due to have External Wall Insulation installed on their outside walls and elevations.

The improvement work is part of Wrexham Council’s project to ensure that all council owned homes in the County Borough achieve the Welsh Government’s Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2020.
Non-traditional, cubitt properties, such as those in Acton, are generally harder to heat than traditional brick cavity wall insulated homes.

The improvement work will involve installing a 100mm layer of insulation to the outside of all elevations, making the homes more energy efficient and cheaper to heat.

As well as helping the houses to hold in heat, installing External Wall Insulation will also help fill in cracks to reduce drafts and improve sound resistance, reduce co2 emissions, and increase the overall lifespan of the properties by protecting their structures.

Installing insulation on the outside walls will also have the added benefit of improving the external appearance of properties. The properties are also set to be re-roofed if required.

The work will be carried out by a Wrexham based contractor, RW Hough & Sons Ltd.

Local Member for Acton, Cllr Geoff Lowe, said: “This is very positive news for our tenants. The insulation will make a massive difference to this area and will help ensure that these homes are cheaper for tenants to heat and fit for the future.

“The open day event which was held recently for tenants to get information about the work was very well attended so it’s good to see that tenants are engaged with the project and I hope that they will all be able to benefit from these improvements as the work is completed over the next few months.”

Wrexham Council are investing a total of £52m on housing improvement work in 2015/16. This includes a £7.5m Major Repairs Allowance grant which the Welsh Government Awards to local authorities to support them achieving the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

Wrexham Council owns around 11,300 properties in total, of which around 1,600 are non-traditional. This includes houses constructed from steel, concrete and other brick alternatives such as Swedish timber.

Most of Wrexham’s non-traditional properties were erected in the late 1940’s and 1950’s and through the 1960’s to tackle the huge post-war demand for housing. Wrexham Council plans to install External Wall Insulation on all its non-traditional properties by 2020.

Lead Member for Housing, Cllr Ian Roberts, added: “We completed External Insulation work in a number of areas already, including Cefn, Johnstown and Llay and it’s had a very positive impact on those communities. The completed properties look brand new from the outside and tenants are telling us they’ve already noticed a difference in their heating costs.

“We want all homes to be comfortable, affordable and desirable places for tenants to live which is why we’re making every effort to go the extra mile with the quality and design of all the internal and external work we are carrying out.

“As well as Acton, we’ll also be installing External Wall Insulation in other areas over the next few months, including Acrefair, Coedpoeth, and Gresford.”

Along with External Insulation Work, Wrexham Council’s improvements project will also include offering brand new kitchens and bathrooms to all properties, where required to meet the standard. Other improvements being carried out include electrical rewiring, new central heating systems and external work such as paths, fences and gates.

More information on the work being carried out to achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard can be found on Wrexham Council’s website – www.wrexham.gov.uk/whqs