Case Study: Merseyside (Seabank) Full Rebuild

The Project:

Client:

A national charitable housing provider (Registered Social Landlord registered with the Communities & Homes Agency). Client’s charitable objects include the goal of providing quality affordable housing for persons in housing need.

The Property:

A building more than two hundred years old, subject to conservation requirements and in a conservation area, with various period external features, converted in the 1970s to three flats with communal entrance. Located in a pleasant northern seaside town, close to and overlooking the Irish sea. The building comprised three floors, cellars and had a three-storey rear outrigger extension added at the time of conversion in which each flat had a kitchen and bathroom.

Problems to Rectify:

A significant fire in the roof void above the top floor flat had burnt out that flat before spreading to the floor below, causing very serious damage to the main roof and several walls, damaging windows, doors, staircases, plumbing, heating, electrical and various shared systems which together with smoke and very significant water damage had rendered all four units uninhabitable. Following the fire being extinguished the building had remained unoccupied and open to the elements for some years before a plan to restore it could be executed.

The property was in a semi-derelict and potentially dangerous condition with a very badly damaged roof and internal structure, leaving the premises at risk of collapse, and in need of significant and urgent re-construction. Before work could commence, the seagulls, pigeon and other vermin infested building had to be cleared of wildlife, considerable amounts of bird guano and sanitised.

Modernisation and upgrade of services and facilities also to be undertaken to meet current building, safety and letting standards. Of considerable importance was the need to restore the appearance of the building, as per conservation listing requirements and to restore certain external period features (e.g. window mouldings, decorative features, render, etc)

A full ‘back to brick’ refurbishment program with modernisation of certain facilities would restore the building to its desirable best and help the client meet strong demand for affordable housing in the area. Project included the need for some demolition, rebuild and strengthening of various damaged structural items (e.g. roof, walls, windows, etc).