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Project name: West Parade, Rhyl
Location: Rhyl
Contract: JCT Intermediate
Value: £800,000
Duration: 17 weeks
Summary:
This refurbishment project of semi derelict residential properties provided an opportunity to rejuvenate the local townscape, providing new homes fit for the next century and securing a “North Wales Building Excellence Award” for the Best Apartments Project.
QUALITY – Renovation projects present many challenges for the construction team, coupled with the major design amendments required as a result of the planning criteria, the effectiveness of Reads quality system was evidenced in the award of the LABC “Best Apartment Project” award.
SUSTAINABLE – Located in an area of Rhyl classified as a ‘fuel starvation’ area, the local authority was keen to promote the use of renewable energy sources within the proposed design to offset the heating and hot water running costs. To assist this matter, a Warm Wales Grant was secured to fund the supply and installation of ‘renewables’ by a local authority approved heating engineer. This resulted in belated amendments and upgrades to the proposals which were accommodated within the overal budget and programme.
FLEXIBLE – Unexpectedly, planning consent for the external heat pump housing was refused, resulting in the need to change to ‘Exhaust Air’ heat pumps. This late change had further ramifications on the contract as it imposed changes to the internal layout and a need for additional floor strengthening. Through proactive management, Read were able to accommodate the alterations and deliver the scheme under budget and on programme.
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Read Construction Holdings Ltd was the successful contractor for this prestigious project involving the complete refurbishment of both buildings (each containing 10 No. self contained flats) to full Building Regulation standards. Management of the contract was complex as each building was the subject of separate grant awards.
The entire external enveloping, including the restoration of such elements as roof, chimneys, rainwater systems and frontages was the subject of a Property & Environment Grant authorised by the Denbigh and Rhyl Townscape Heritage Initiatives department of Denbighshire County Council and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. The internal upgrade of the flats was subsidised by a Housing & Area Renewal Internal Improvement Grant authorised by the Housing & Regeneration Department of Denbighshire County Council and funded by them. As the buildings were located in an area of Rhyl classified as a ‘fuel starvation’ area, the local authority was keen to promote the use of renewable energy sources within the proposed design to offset the heating and hot water running costs. To further assist in this matter a supplementary grant by Warm Wales was incorporated to fund specifically the cost associated with the supply and installation of the ‘renewables’ by a local authority approved heating engineer. This resulted in belated amendments and upgrades to the proposals.
Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, planning consent for the external heat pump housing was refused, at the eleventh hour, resulting in the need to change the form of ‘renewables’ used from air source to ‘Exhaust Air’ heat pumps on the recommendation of the heating engineer. This late change in the type of system used had further ramifications on the contract as it imposed changes to the internal layout of the flats and the need to provide additional floor strengthening to cope with change in structural design loads.
Read Construction Holdings Ltd worked diligently with the client to effect the necessary changes.
The completed building at 65 West Parade, Rhyl represents the first building of its type in the area, not only to be fully upgraded to meet the stringent requirements of the latest Building Regulations in terms of Acoustics Part E and Hygiene Part G, but also Ventilation Part F and Heating Part L1B, using the groundbreaking application of renewable technology in a building of this type.