Modernisation of UHBW Flats for Families Seeking Temporary Housing
UHBW comprising University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and Weston Area Health NHS Trust delivers clinical services across ten different sites, serving people in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding areas.
UHBW was exploring options to increase Bristol City Council’s supply of cost-effective temporary accommodation utilising existing accommodation on a ‘meanwhile Basis’ while exploring longer-term developments for families that have become homeless or threatened with homelessness.
What the client wanted
This project is a collaboration between UHBW’s Estates and Facilities department and Bristol City Council’s Temporary Accommodation Team to provide housing management and support, with a plan to refurbish twelve flats within a 3-storey low-rise housing block on Eugene Street, Bristol. The aim was to fully refurbish 12 of the 24 flats, including staff and community areas, to Bristol City Council’s relet housing standard, which includes new energy-efficient boilers and modern kitchens and bathrooms.
How we helped
We secured the contract under competitive tender as the principal contractor working alongside consultants Faithful+Gould to project manage and deliver the modernisation to cost and programme certainty. We completed three flats at a time to fast-track the works within a shorter timeframe using our own dedicated trades so that families could move in earlier than would otherwise be the case.
Works comprised electrical rewires and full redecorations throughout, including modern bathrooms and kitchens complete with A-rated appliances and fuel-efficient gas boilers. We installed new 30-minute FD30 fire-rated doors teamed with passive fire protection and fire-stopping, sealing service penetrations to create safer places for people to live. The outcome is a fully refurbished housing block comprising modern accommodation that’s comfortable for families to call home while more permanent accommodation is organised.
