Lib Dems to ask tenant views on £1.2 million facelift for Holloway block

12.00.00am GMT Tue 23rd Mar 2004

Liberal Democrats on Islington Council have agreed to start consultation with tenants in Albermarle Mansions on Holloway Road about a major £1.2 million facelift to their block. The consultation will ask tenants' views on a major refurbishment and improvement programme by the Council to bring the 24 flats up to the government's required Decent Homes Standard and up to current building and fire regulations. The works will involve catch-up repairs, improving fire escape routes and upgrading 16 flats. Albermarle Mansions currently consists of 16 '3 bedroom flats' and 8 '2 bedroom flats'. To ensure the required funding for works can go ahead, 8 '2 bedroom' properties will be disposed of to a housing association for possible use as low cost home ownership or shared ownership accommodation. Decanting of residents will be required for the works to go ahead. The consultation with residents ? including decant needs and arrangements ? will start immediately and the results will come back to the Council's Executive for a final decision. Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Housing, Councillor Jyoti Vaja, said: "The plans for Albermarle Mansions could see massive benefits for tenants in the block. "The planned £1.2 million of investment by the council will bring to an end the anti-social behaviour in the block caused by vagrants and drug-taking, install central heating in 13 flats that currently have no heating and a raft of other improvements. "I hope that the consultation with tenants backs the plans that the Council has come up with to improve this listed building." The Plan The works agreed by the Liberal Democrat executive under Option B include: fire doors between homes to allow fires to burn 1 hour before residents are in danger internal alterations to allow the building of fire lobbies and reduce corridor lengths the decommissioning of the existing fire escapes on to the roof renewal of the existing pitched roof renewal of flat roofs replacement of all windows replacement of all window sills door entry systems new front doors to the 3 stairwells new fire alarm system staircase repairs and stairwell decoration central heating for 13 flats external decorations to the whole block 100% of the capital receipt generated from the sale of 8 flats to a housing association can be used to bring the remaining homes in council ownership up to the government's Decent Homes Standard. Normally, 75% of the proceeds would go to the government. There will be a pro rata reduction in costs for works to the remaining 16 flats in the council's ownership making a total council expenditure £820,000. Albermarle Mansions is a listed building in a conservation area Previous options for block included transfer to RSL or disposal on open market