Concrete cancer revamp makes progress

The next phase of a £40 million project to tackle homes hit by concrete cancer is about to begin.

Social landlord Somer is redeveloping or refurbishing more than 300 homes in Bath and Keynsham.

Work began last year at Caernarvon Road in Keynsham, where homes made of pre-cast reinforced concrete are being redeveloped.

This work - carried out by contractor Lovell - should be completed by the summer.

The firm has also won the £1.8 million contract to refurbish homes in the town's Coronation Avenue, in a process which should also finish during the summer.

The refurbishment work will include the installation of new insulation blockwork, as well as insulating, cladding and rendering of the properties.

Lovell will also put in new windows, doors, fascias and gutters.

There are two other areas in Keynsham where work will be carried out, as well as five locations in Bath.

In all, 193 homes will be demolished, with funding coming from the sale of 70 new private homes being built as part of the package as well as from Bath and North East Somerset Council, the Housing Corporation and Somer itself.

The knocked-down homes will be replaced by 240 new ones, while 83 will be refurbished - all in Coronation Avenue.

Other areas to be tackled - all by redevelopment - are:

* Amberley Close and Lulworth Road in Keynsham, where redevelopment is dependent on the outcome of a planning application submitted last July.

* Holcombe Green, Weston, where a planning application was submitted in November.

* Day Crescent, Pennyquick View, and Hinton Close in Twerton and Southlands, Weston, where residents have been consulted on draft plans and will get to see final proposals at information events in the next few months, before planning applications are submitted.

PRC homes were built in large numbers in the post-war years but as a result of structural problems either in the concrete used in their construction, or the corrosion of the steel reinforcement, the properties have been technically classed as defective.

Refurbishment is expected to take around eight weeks for each property with residents remaining in their homes while the work takes place. Somer says Lovell's resident liaison team will work closely with tenants to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.

Lovell regional director Nick Kurobasa said: "These improvements are set to make a major difference for residents, transforming homes and making them warmer and more energy efficient.

"It's great to be starting work."

Somer director of customer services Neil Bolton added: "Not only will residents see a dramatic difference in their homes, these works will also improve the look of the neighbourhood."