Housing / Multi-million pound council house refurbishment proposed for Nesting, Whalsay and Brae
CONTRACTORS are being sought for refurbishment work planned across three council housing estates in Shetland – with the total combined cost of the projects estimated at more than £5.5 million.
Shetland Islands Council (SIC) has re-tendered for work at Harlsdale in Whalsay, with an estimated contract value of around £3.2 million.
The contract includes the full internal and external refurbishment of 12 properties.
The last time it went out to tender the council did not find a suitable contractor.
An SIC spokesperson said: “This is a significant capital investment and due to the extent of works involved, the Scottish Government has earmarked £1.1 million of funding from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.
“The contract is expected to run over 24 months.”
The council is also currently tendering for full external work on 16 houses at Stendaal in Nesting.
This would consist of work like re-roofing, upgrading external doors and re-building retaining walls, as well as replacing blockwork. The estimated contract value is £2 million.
The tender process has a deadline of 1 February.
“At this stage we are advertising for expressions of interest from contractors,” the SIC spokesperson said.
“Some elements of the project will be subject to budget approval in forthcoming budget processes and we would proceed to tender once budgets are fully approved.
“This is part of our normal planned capital works.”
Meanwhile the local authority is proposing to install replacement windows and doors, and carry out re-roofing works, at nine properties in Moorfield in Brae.
This is part of a phased programme of work which has been running over the last two years.
The SIC spokesperson said: “This is part of our normal planned capital works to upgrade components before the end of their life-cycle and we have an estimated contract value of £425,000.
“This major component replacement programme is part of the ‘fabric-first approach’ to upgrading energy efficiency across our housing stock.
“Feedback from tenants of previously completed contracts has been positive.
“Fabric-first is a recognised and widely accepted approach to ensure that the major components (or fabric) of the building are designed for maximum performance to support energy efficiency before adding mechanical or technical components.”
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