£10 million refurbishment, modernisation and improvement works at Hamara Ghar sheltered living scheme.
- The 124 flat complex in Queen’s market will undergo complete modernisation and refurbishment
- The project is a flagship project for the Council’s goals to achieve significant reductions in fuel poverty and meet its climate emergency obligations.
A meeting of Newham Council’s Cabinet (Tuesday 5 December 2023) has given the green light for a £10 million scheme of improvements at the Hamara Ghar sheltered housing complex.
The block is located within the Queen’s Market/Green Street site in London E13, and forms part of a significant Council regeneration scheme to restore and enhance the market and its surrounding area.
The Council intends to secure the long-term future of both Queen’s Market and Hamara Ghar as important community assets for local residents. Improvements to the block will contribute to the Council’s provision of housing for Newham’s elderly and most vulnerable residents and will also enable the Council to meet its climate emergency obligations.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said: “Hamara Ghar lies at the very heart of the community of Green Street and Queen’s Market and the refurbishment will modernise, improve and future proof the complex – providing warm, safe and energy efficient homes for our elderly residents for years to come.
“At this time of economic crisis and cost of living crisis, I remain totally committed to improving the lives of our residents and this project contributes to delivering my promise to build a fairer Newham.
“It also delivers on our commitment to protect the planet. The project will see the flats retrofitted with improved insulation to window and walls which will provide more energy efficient homes to the residents. This will mean that less energy will be needed to heat the properties and the building will maintain that warmth.
“We are securing the long-term future of both Queen’s Market and Hamara Ghar as important community assets for local residents. Improvements to the block will contribute to the Council’s provision of housing for Newham’s elderly and most vulnerable residents and will also enable the Council to meet its climate emergency obligations.”
The refurbishment and retrofit works are expected to start in January 2024, with the bulk of the works expected to be completed in the next two financial years.
Residents benefitting from the refurbishment works have been consulted throughout the development of the specification. This collaboration with residents has assisted in the creation of the first Registered Tenants Association in Newham. On award of the contract, residents will continue to be consulted on relevant options and remain at the heart of the project.
The works will include:
- Windows replaced with new thermally efficient materials
- Replacement of flat roofing with a new fully insulated roof
- Replacement and redecoration of bathrooms and kitchens to each flat
- Electrical upgrades to properties
- New heat retention heaters to the flats and communal areas
- A facelift and redecoration of the reception
- New ventilation system to each flat for better air quality and consistency of temperature within the flats
- New hot water system to each flat
- Recladding of the building with external wall insulation
- New front entrance doors to flats and new communal doors
- Redecoration and new ceilings in communal corridors
- New flooring to communal areas
In support of this flagship project, the Council has secured significant grant funding of £1.777m under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.