The second phase of Metropolitan’s ambitious five-year refurbishment of the Ashmole Estate, adjacent to the Oval cricket ground in Lambeth, is underway.
Phase 2 will see a further range of improvements to homes on the 700-property estate including the replacement of kitchens and bathrooms; the installation of new boilers and radiators; re-roofing; and brickwork repairs to blocks of flats.
The overall aim of the project is to revamp the estate and create modern, warm and more energy-efficient homes for the future.
Improvements made during Phase 1 included upgrades to building exteriors; the refurbishment of a sheltered club house for the over-50s; and communal area enhancements, such as a new multi-use family recreation area called the ‘Jelly Park.’
The Ashmole project, due for completion in 2016, incorporates a variety of works to reduce carbon emissions including: external wall insulation; double glazing; and energy-efficient heating and hot water systems, including modern communal boilers. As a result, assessors predict a reduction in annual CO2 emissions of between 1.9 and 5.2 tonnes per unit, depending on the property type and its location on the estate.
A range of community initiatives are also in place, including a highly successful employment scheme providing training and support for local people on or near the estate. The site-based construction training programme ‘Live Train’ is funded by Metropolitan and construction partner Rydon, and has so far secured full-time employment for 24 people.
Richard Vining, Metropolitan’s Executive Director of Development, said: “The start of Phase 2 is a key milestone in the work we are doing with our partners at Ashmole. We are confident that this regeneration will deliver a vast improvement for residents and play a major role in creating local employment and community opportunities.”
Jovan Trkulja, Chair of the Ashmole Regeneration Board, and a resident, said: “I think Phase 1 went very well. The estate looks a lot better and more inviting now as a result of both the structural and landscaping improvements made so far. Residents feel warmer in their homes thanks to better insulation and we have useful recreational spaces in the form of the Jelly Park for children and families, and the refurbished club house for older residents.
“It’s early days for Phase 2 but work is underway and people on the estate are looking forward to the upgrades and improvements that will be made to their homes.”
Oval Councillor Jack Hopkins, who is also an Ashmole resident, said: "I'm really glad we are getting on with Phase 2. The Ashmole Regeneration Board was a positive forum for bringing challenges and the experiences of residents to Metropolitan and was constructive. I am confident the second phase will go even more smoothly."
Steve Blake, Refurbishment Director of Rydon Maintenance, added: “We are committed to continuing the positive change to the Ashmole Estate and the surrounding community, providing better, more efficient homes and employment opportunities in our industry. This is a great example of regeneration in Lambeth delivering benefits for generations to come.”