Asset Fineline brings 250 homes back to life with Sheerframe

Published by PartnersPR for L.B. PLASTICS LTD in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

More than 250 homes which have lain unused in North London for three decades have been brought back to life with Sheerframe windows and rear doors from social housing fenestration specialist Asset Fineline.

The company is working with contractor Durkan to replace the windows and doors in a large group of 1920s-built properties owned and managed by Notting Hill Housing Trust in the Bounds Green area of North London.  These will provide much needed affordable houses and flats in the Enfield Council area.

Despite the shortage of housing in the capital, the homes have been largely uninhabited since the 1970s when the government purchased them with a view to demolishing them as part of expansion plans for the busy A406 North Circular Road.  That ambition was never realised and the homes simply fell into disrepair with many attracting squatters.

Other social problems developed including fly tipping, neglect, and overgrown vegetation which made some of the homes in the area uninhabitable.  Although some of the properties were rented on short term leases, 50 homes were illegally occupied which required all contractors and sub-contractors to work in partnership with Notting Hill Housing Trust and the local community police to sensitively evict squatters.

Durkan was appointed by Notting Hill Housing Trust, who, working in partnership with Enfield Council acquired the homes from Transport for London (TfL) in 2010, to refurbish the properties In addition to high performance Sheerframe windows and rear doors, Durkan’s extensive £10m internal and external refurbishment contract also includes new kitchens and bathrooms, to bring them up to the latest standards by Spring 2012.

Michael Wright, Senior Contracts Manager for Durkan commented: “This is a high profile and prestigious contract for Durkan and its supply chain partners, therefore we looked carefully into who could meet the exacting requirements. Asset Fineline pledged to achieve these with us and have fulfilled their commitment, particularly with their fast initial mobilisation and accelerated programme which was a requirement to meeting a key client milestone.

“Their continued service from survey through to install and their quality product has been essential to the success of the programme and I look forward to working with Asset Fineline again in the future.”

Darren Sowter, Sales & Estimating Manager said: “We are delighted to be working with Durkan to bring an end to empty properties in the Bounds Green area and provide much needed high quality family homes. The window and door replacement programme is a key part of the upgrading project which will help to regenerate the neighbourhood and deliver a sustainable community.”

Asset Fineline’s windows and doors at Bounds Green exclusively use Sheerframe PVC-U systems from UK building products manufacturer L.B. Plastics.  Its systems have been extensively used in social housing refurbishment for three decades, transforming the thermal and acoustic standards of properties as well as improving aesthetics.

All Sheerframe systems are UK-made using 100% lead-free PVC and deliver windows and doors which are easy to recycle at the end of an independently certified service life of at least 35 years.

To find out more about Asset Fineline visit www.assetfineline.co.uk.  More information on Sheerframe systems can be found at www.sheerframe.co.uk.