Pair of Salford tower blocks in line for £10m investment 

Salix Homes is planning to upgrade Greyfriar Court and Whitefriar Court, located off Blackfriars Road. 

The 14-storey Salford high rises will undergo a £10m refurbishment, making them greener and more energy efficient, according to housing association Salix. 

Salix, which owns 8,000 homes across Salford, has secured £4m from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund to help fund the project. 

The planned improvement work includes external wall and roof insulation, new windows and ventilation. The façade and balconies will also be rendered. 

A ground source heating system will also be installed, which, combined with the external insulation, will improve the thermal efficiency of the building and help reduce energy bills for residents, Salix said. 

Contractor Casey will carry out the improvement work, which is due to start on site later this year, and is expected to be complete by March 2025. 

Liam Turner, executive director of assets, growth and sustainability at Salix Homes, said: “This significant investment project will give a new lease of life to these ageing 1960s tower blocks, transforming the properties into desirable, modern homes which are more comfortable and economical to run, while helping to meet our carbon neutral ambitions. 

“This marks another step forwards towards achieving our sustainability goals and improving the energy efficiency of all our housing stock, which will benefit both our residents and the planet.” 

The project is being carried out in line with sustainability targets set by the government and Salix’s own net zero aims. 

The government requires all social housing to have an EPC C rating by 2030, while Salix has committed to becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2038.