Project Details

We are conducting a Deconversion and Improved Energy Efficiency Programme across ten properties in West London for our client Westminster City Council. 26 Fourth Avenue is the first property in our programme.

Our 16-week Deconversion and Improved Energy Efficiency Programme, valued at £300,000, increased the living space of the property to enable our client Westminster City Council to house a larger family.

We converted the house from four bedrooms to five and added a new shower room with toilet and handbasin. And to improve the thermal efficiency of the building, we completely replaced the gas with electric heating and hot water systems and fully insulated interior walls and loft.

“Inherently, the properties are small in footprint and the unique design principles have allowed us to maximise the space and to provide much-needed homes to the citizens of the City of Westminster.

“Axis’ supply chain and management have allowed this to work seamlessly. Their rigorous approach to their programming and sequencing of works has allowed us to meet our deadlines”– Jeff Tourmentin, Head of Capital Investment Programme, Westminster City Council

Scope of Works

• Conversion from 4-bed to 5-bed house
• Full strip out
• Levelling internal flooring and ceilings
• Structural works including moving walls
• Disconnection of all gas
• New PV panels/Inverter/Battery
• New TRUST Neos radiator system
• New Thermino heat batteries for hot water –Sunamp UK
• Kitchen upgrade
• Bathroom upgrade (upstairs)
• New downstairs shower room
• Secondary glazing installation
• Internal wall insulation (120mm SWIP)
• SMART Airex Ventilation Control bricks
• 400mm loft insulation
• New composite rear door
• Timber sash window overhauls
• Full external façade repairs and redecoration
• LED lighting
• New electric underfloor heating
• New humidistat extractor fans
• LD2 fire alarm system (smoke/heat detectors)
• Garden paving and landscaping
• New carpets and wood flooring
• Painting and decorating

Works in detail

Structural Works and Insulation

Our structural works included moving walls, removing chimney stacks and repairing and laying new flooring. To allow the property to become DDA compliant if needed in the future, we also widened corridors. Our Internal Wall Insulation (120mm SWIP) consists of thermally engineered composite studs and insulation slabs which can produce a thermal performance improvement of over 80%. We also insulated the loft.

Heating and Hot Water

The property is now fully electric. After disconnecting the gas, we installed a new electrical solar inverter which converts the electricity captured by the new Solar Panels, charging the batteries which are housed in the garden. A new, innovative and award-winning TRUST Neos Electric Radiator LP3 system keeps the property at a comfortable and controllable temperature reducing heating costs significantly. And New Thermino heat batteries for hot water – Sunamp UK – replace traditional hot water cylinders and provide a thermal energy storage solution with a minimal heat loss rate.

Kitchen

We completely upgraded the kitchen adding brand new appliances (tall fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, cooker hob and oven) and installing LED lighting as well as LD2 fire alarm system (smoke/heat detectors). There is underfloor heating to the kitchen vinyl flooring and secondary glazing to the large window over the kitchen sink, while a composite double glazed back door to the garden provides added security and increased thermal efficiency.

Shower Room

We also created a brand-new shower room (featuring a new walk-in shower as well as a toilet and a basin). Further additions in the shower room include new windows and LED lighting, an efficient extraction system to keep condensation at bay and underfloor heating to the vinyl flooring, and a tower rail.

External

Our team installed SMART Airex Ventilation Control bricks which control air flow to reduce heat loss while ensuring sufficient ventilation to prevent condensation. By reducing draughts and making the underfloor space warmer, the bricks improve the U-value (the rate of transfer of heat). We laid a new concrete floor to the side elevation of the property and then also cleaned and re-bedded paving slabs to the rear section of the property. The garden also features the housing for the batteries which are connected to the PV panels to provide power to the property. Our team then carried out decorations to all the walls and windows.

Additional Works

To finish off the Deconversion and Improved Energy Efficiency Programme we painted and decorated throughout, and carried out repairs to the banister and the balustrades. We created storage space under the stairs, installed LD2 fire alarm system (smoke/heat detectors) to the ceilings, repaired and restored the sash timber windows and added new carpets/wooden flooring.

Benefits

• Increased and enhanced living space for larger families
• Potential 80% thermal efficiency improvement
• Potential 30% reduction in heating costs
• Improved U-value (rate of transfer of heat)
• Reduced carbon footprint
• Better light, insulation and ventilation
• A safe and comfortable home
• Futureproofing
• Assists our clients achieve Net Zero targets

Client Relationship

Axis has delivered planned maintenance to City of Westminster’s 21,000 properties since 2012, improving the safety, comfort and environmental performance of residents’ homes. Our contract, which has been extended twice, has included cyclical decorations and renewal works to roofs, windows, external structures and internal communal areas, as well as kitchen and bathroom and fire door replacements, solar panel installation and a ten-property deconversion programme.