One Manchester appoints Wates for cladding replacement deal

Housing association One Manchester has chosen Wates Living Space to carry out replacement of defective cladding on 13 of its residential tower blocks in Hulme and East Manchester.

The housing association said a programme of works was “currently being established” but it would take around 12 months for Wates to replace cladding that had failed fire safety tests across its estate.

One Manchester has also appointed fire engineer Tenos to work with Wates on the cladding replacement.

Only three of One Manchester’s tower blocks – Abbey Court, Cornwall Court, and Cundiff Court – passed two rounds of fire safety tests by the BRE, carried out in August this year. The remaining 13 buildings, which had an aluminium composite material cladding system, did not pass the second round of tests.

One Manchester has also started the installation of fire alarms at some of its blocks, as well as heat detectors in each of its properties, with contractor AGS carrying out the work.

The housing association is one of several in Greater Manchester and Liverpool that has undertaken cladding replacement in the wake of the Grenfell Fire.

Both Salix Homes and City West Housing Trust have removed cladding from their buildings, with cladding at 11 of City West’s 12 high-rise blocks failing tests by the BRE.

The housing association said it would be removing this cladding from blocks in Central Eccles, adding that it was “currently working to identify a suitable replacement in line with Government recommendations and expert advice”.

City West Housing Trust has also announced plans to fit fire sprinklers at all 12 of its high-rise blocks in Eccles.

Tim Doyle, group chief executive for ForViva, said: “The safety of customers is an absolute priority for the group. That is why we have taken the decision to carry out this programme of work, which will provide peace of mind for customers living in high-rise blocks.

“We will continue to work with customers throughout the process and make sure they are aware when work will be starting in their homes.”

Your Comments

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Oh god that’s vile

By Soya

You fail to mention in your list of ‘safe’ tower blocks owned by One Manchester St Georges Court (the orange block in the photo above) which is terracotta clad on all four sides and was listed as One Manchester’s only tower block without aluminium cladding.

By David H

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