Watling Gardens – EWI / ECO Scheme

The Watling Gardens tower blocks were first identified as potentially qualifying for ECO funding in February 2013. Following a detailed assessment by British Gas, approx. £2.4m funding was offered to cover the applicable ECO measures which included new windows to habitable rooms, external wall insulation and renewal of the district heating system.

The funding offer also allowed for project preliminaries and scaffolding costs to be paid for as part of the deal, however it required Brent Housing Partnership to release 300 hard to treat cavity properties to offset potential shortfalls in the carbon savings.

The works included new fireproof non-combustible external wall insulation to the external walls, new windows & external balcony doors, new roofing, new balcony panels, a new district heating and hot water system and all associated works for the delivery.

In formulating the scope of works for the BHP funded works, the impact that the proposed British Gas funded ECO works would have on the blocks had to be fully considered.  From the off-set, British Gas had confirmed that their funding only covered key ECO measures and all associated and preparatory works, such as asbestos works, concrete repairs, decorations, works to non-habitable rooms, etc would have to be paid for by BHP.

In looking at the overall scheme, the interfaces between new and old materials was also a significant consideration, particularly in relation to the overall aesthetic appearances of the finished works. This was also relevant to the planning application as the planners would assess the application based on the proposed finishes to the blocks as a whole.

The measures proposed will not only reduce fuel bills and tackle poverty but will also enhance and regenerate the whole estate and its appearance. The design was developed in line with Capital Architects and British Gas’s contractor.