A wide-ranging £57m plan for safer and more modern high-rise living has been approved by Kirklees Council’s Cabinet.
The plan for four council-owned high-rise buildings focuses on making sure tenants are safe and confident in their homes, with a mixture of remediation, refurbishment and rebuilding work to also take place.
Kirklees’ Council’s plans was formed following in-depth conversations with tenants and leaseholders earlier this year.
In this, they looked for ways to ensure robust fire safety measures were in place and that potential fire risks were minimised, in line with government requirements.
Residents provided vital insight, allowing the council to hear the voices of those directly impacted and to plan with their needs at the centre.
The £57m investment will see Bishop’s Court and Holme Park Court demolished and replaced with new lower height buildings.
Buxton House will be significantly remodelled, while Harold Wilson Court will see improvements to fire safety standards.
Commenting, Kirklees Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Democracy, Councillor Cathy Scott said:
“The tragic events of Grenfell were a reminder that the council cannot ignore the ongoing risks associated with high-rise residential blocks.
“The safety of our residents is our first priority and we are committed to bringing our high-rise buildings up to the standard our tenants deserve.
“Our tenants are uniquely placed to give us feedback and when the new government standards were introduced, we spoke to our tenants and explained the options for each of the high-rise blocks in question.
“Taking on this feedback helped inform the Cabinet decision and we now have a plan for investment that will deliver safer and more modern homes.”
Further consultation with tenants will take place to explain the plan moving forward, including rehousing options during the works, which should commence sometime next year.
