Capital programme update Open House issue 2 2017

Welsh Housing Quality Standard - Capital Programme update The Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) is the Welsh Government’s target standard for all social housing in Wales.

The WHQS states that all homes should be: UÊ Ê>Ê} `ÊÃÌ>ÌiÊ vÊÀi«> À UÊ ->viÊ> `ÊÃiVÕÀi UÊ `iµÕ>Ìi ÞÊ i>Ìi`]ÊvÕi ÊivwV i ÌÊ> `ÊÜi Ê ÃÕ >Ìi` UÊ Ì> ÊÕ«ÊÌ Ê`>ÌiÊ ÌV i ÃÊ> `ÊL>Ì À à UÊ V>Ìi`Ê Ê>ÌÌÀ>VÌ ÛiÊ> `ÊÃ>viÊi Û À i Ìà UÊ -Õ ÌÊÌ iÊëiV wVÊÀiµÕ Ài i ÌÃÊ vÊÌ iÊ ÕÃi `

Achieving the WHQS in Swansea

2

Area

Óä£È

2017

Penlan

55

48

The Council has been progressing with work to improve homes and estates up to the WHQS by 2020/2021. Over the next 4 years, the Council is investing over £200 million to ensure we comply with the WHQS. Part of this investment is given to the Council as a Major Repair Allowance grant by the Welsh Government. This grant helps improve the lives of those who live in council homes as well as providing community benefits.

Cwmbwrla

2018

49

Caemawr

37

Penllergaer

28

Llanllienwen

177

Mayhill & Townhill Schemes 1&2

122

Mayhill & Townhill Scheme 3

70

The following provides information on the work completed so far as well as future planned work.

McRitchie Place

71

Pontardulais

26

25

In a good state of repair

Winch Wen

41

65

7 `Ê> `Ê7i>Ì iÀ«À w }Ê«À }À> i

West Cross

60

65

This includes insulating and improving the external walls and roof of the property. Since April 2010, the Council has completed Ó]ÈxÓ properties and work is planned for a further £] £{ properties over the next 4 years.

West Cross (BISF)

32

28

Loughor

30

Clase

55

89

The following table sets out the wind and weatherproofing programme for the years 2016 2018. This includes work ongoing/almost complete for 2016 and work commencing in 2017/18.

Craig Cefn Parc

26

20

50

55

Open House: Issue 2 2017

62

49 20

3

Birchgrove

Sketty Croft St

42

27

105

, w }ÊÃV i ià Î]ÓÇä properties have received new roofs since April 2010 and new schemes are planned for the coming years with 308 properties scheduled for completion in 2017/18. Roofing schemes also include loft insulation which will improve energy efficiency and help with heating bills.

This table shows the areas and the number of homes which have received new roofs in 2016 and 2017 to date: Areas

Óä£È

2017

Blaenymaes

112

106

Bonymaen

36

Door Renewal Programme

Townhill & Port Tennant (Clay Roofs)

45

The Door Renewal Programme is now virtually complete with ]n£Ç properties having new uPVC or fire safety doors installed since April 2010.

Gower

63

Clase (Ewenny Place)

117

Sketty flats

5 blocks

Penlan (Wimpey No Fines)

59

Three Crosses & Llangennith

22

Loughor

16

Various including Morriston, Plasmarl, Penlan and Uplands

20

-ÌÀÕVÌÕÀ> ÊÀi«> ÀÃ]Ê`À> >}iÊÀi«> ÀÃÊ> `Ê improvements A number of structural repairs have been carried out, including work to retaining walls where the wall supports the land next to it.

There have also been many drainage repairs and improvements to some sites where problems have arisen with drains, culverts or water ponding.

Safe and secure

Chimneys Scheme

Fire Safety

Chimneys which are in poor repair can cause problems with damp. This scheme will remove, repair or rebuild the chimney.

Considerable work is being done to enhance fire safety in blocks of flats and sheltered complexes which includes fire doors, emergency lighting and new improved signage.

118 chimneys were completed in 2015. In 2016, 221 chimneys were removed or repaired. In 2017, Î{ä properties will have chimneys removed or repaired if still required in: Cae Conna Road, Heol Y Maes, Bryngwastad Road, Gors Avenue and Heol Maesygelynen.

Balconies

Flats with communal areas have new doors which are of a higher standard and will provide 60 minute fire protection for residents. Other fire safety work includes work to sheltered complex communal areas and community rooms, installation of sprinklers in some complexes and new fire alarm systems.

Balconies require repairs/upgrade work and {{Ç balconies have been completed so far with work on a further xÓ being planned for 2018/2019.

New fire alarms have been fitted in 18 of the sheltered complexes bringing them and the emergency lighting systems up to current standards.

Open House: Issue 2 2017

3

Sprinklers Seven of the larger sheltered complexes have had sprinklers installed, which enhances their fire safety.

Plans are also being developed to install sprinklers in all high rise blocks of flats.

Voice Entry Systems 46 blocks of flats are scheduled to have new voice entry systems fitted or upgraded, during 2017/2018.

The addition of robust doors to the blocks will enhance security and allow tenants to control who enters the blocks, helping to reduce vandalism and harassment.

`iµÕ>Ìi ÞÊ i>Ìi` Heating Boilers are renewed as part of a planned programme with the oldest systems treated as a priority. The aim is to ensure all properties have efficient boilers with ]ÇÓ{ boilers installed so far.

Fuel Conversions Tenants are offered the option to switch heating fuels to either gas or oil if they currently have coal or electric. 7 properties are due to be converted in 2017.

Since April 2010, 108 properties have received fuel conversions.

Upgrades Tenants can request small items of work such as timer clocks, room thermostats or radiators for a room without one or where the existing one is inadequate to heat the room.

Up to date kitchens and bathrooms Kitchens and Bathrooms Scheme New kitchens and bathrooms are being installed in properties that need them. In the last 5 years, 742 properties have had new kitchens and 1,066 properties have had new bathrooms.

4

Open House: Issue 2 2017

As part of the scheme, kitchens and bathrooms may be adapted to meet individual medical needs. Tenants can discuss medical needs with staff when they visit and before the kitchen and bathroom are designed.

Sometimes the property will be rewired or require partial rewiring to ensure the kitchen has sufficient sockets.

Tenants have ten weeks’ notice of the work and a visit from a member of staff which provides an opportunity to discuss choices and raise any particular needs tenants may have.

Eight weeks before the work starts, a kitchen designer will come and plan the kitchen layout. This will accommodate existing white goods, such as washing machine and fridge. There is a choice of kitchen styles. It is important that access is provided to allow the work to be carried out quickly as the aim is to finish the work in 4 to 5 weeks.

Sometimes, new kitchens and bathrooms are installed in empty properties so they are in place when the new tenant moves in.

New kitchens and bathrooms were installed in 1,820 properties in 2016 and 2,462 properties are planned for 2017/18.

The following table shows the areas and number of properties that are included in the kitchen and bathroom scheme in 2017. Some properties that are newer or already have modern kitchens that are up the WHQS will be completed after 2020.

Area

No of Properties

Birchgrove

229

Caemawr

183

Clase

616

Clydach

451

Craig Cefn Parc

50

Cwm Felin Fach

221

Cwmryhdyceirw

124

Llanllienwen

220

Penllergaer

88

Pontardulais

280

The streets included in the Kitchen and Bathroom scheme for 2017 are: Eastside - Birchgrove Birchgrove Road Gelli Gardens Heol Camlan Heol Cledwyn Heol Dulais Lon Gwesyn Lon Ogwen Parc yr Helig Trewen Road Gorseinon - Penllergaer Dillwyn Road Heol Dewi Sant Heol Y Gelli Heol Yr Eos Llewellyn Road Lon Einon Lon Gaer Mount Crescent Y Garn

Llwyncelyn Avenue Llysgwyn Terrace Maesgwyn Road Maesteg Pantiago Road William Street Morriston Craigcefnparc Fagwr Isaf Ffordd Ellen Lon Heddwch Rhyddwen Road

Morriston - Clydach Brynamlwg Brynteg Danygraig Road Gellionen Road Graig Y Dderi Graigola Road Hafan Glyd Gorseinon - Pontardulais Heol Graigfelen Bryniago Road Heol Valentine Caegwyn Road Heol Y Fagwr Clos Pen Pant Heol Y Nant Dantwyn Road Llwynon Road Ger Y Pant Lone Road Glynhir Road Penydre Road Glynteg Road Players Avenue Heol Glannant Tan Yr Allt Road Heol Y Cae Tanycoed Road Heol Y Coed The Lone Heol Y Maes Tyle Teg Heol Y Waun Waverley Close

Woodside Crescent Morriston - Cwm Felin Fach Chemical Road Gwernos Heol Dyfan Heol Gwernen Heol Maesygelynen Llys Gwernen Maes Collen Vicarage Road MorristonCwmrhydyceirw Heol Fedw Heol Tirdu Heol Y Deri Heol Yr Eithin Llanllienwen Road Maes Y Fedwen Maes Y Onnen ÀÀ ÃÌ Ê Ê > i Üi Glyncollen Crescent Gwernfadog Road Llanllienwen Close Llanllienwen Road Penrhyn Court Pentewan Close Tregarne Close Tregelles Court Morriston - Caemawr Crown Street Heol Cefni

Lon Camlad Lon Claerwen Lon Gwendraeth Lon Hafren Lon Ithon Lon Manor Lon Nedd Lon Sawdde Morriston - Clase Caemawr Road Carno Place Creswell Road Elan Avenue Ewenny Place Fairview Road Fifth Avenue First Avenue Fourth Avenue Hillview Crescent Longview Road Mynydd Garnllwyd Road Pengwern Road Penrhiw Road Penygorse Road Rheidol Avenue Rheidol Court Second Avenue Severn Road Solva Road Tenth Avenue Third Avenue Tirdeunaw Close Ystwyth Place

Open House: Issue 2 2017

5

Smoke Alarms New hard wired smoke alarms have been fitted in n] Îx properties since 2010 and the Council aims to ensure all homes have at least two working smoke alarms. The Council checks these annually as part of its annual heating service. However, these should always be regularly tested to see if they are working.

To report a fault, please contact the Housing Repairs Call Centre or the local District Housing Office – contact details are on the inside cover of this magazine.

V>Ìi`Ê ÊÃ>viÊ> `Ê attractive environments External Facilities Scheme The aim of this scheme is to ensure gardens are safe and suitable to use. The scheme will provide a washing line and airing cupboard, repair steps and ensure protection from areas where falls may occur.

The scheme has been piloted in the Gorseinon area where at least 100 properties have benefitted so far. A further 347 properties in the same area are receiving this work at the moment, with other projects planned elsewhere.

Õ ÌÞÊ i iwÌÃ The ongoing work to improve Council homes also benefits the wider community.

Electrical Testing and Rewiring All of the Council’s properties are tested for electrical safety every 10 years. ]ÇΣ properties have been tested since April 2010. If the electrics do not pass the test then the property has to be rewired. These safety tests are a crucial area of work and it is important that tenants allow access for this to be carried out. In addition to electrical testing work, properties are also rewired every 30 years. Î]nÎÇÊ properties have been rewired since April 2010.

Contractors appointed by the Council are expected to carry out work which benefits communities.

The Council has a ‘Beyond Bricks and Mortar Team’ that works to arrange and maximise the community benefits and places a lot of emphasis on employment and getting people back to work or to learn new skills in the workplace.

The Beyond Bricks and Mortar initiative works with many of the WHQS schemes and to date has achieved 3544 ‘person weeks’ of training for new trainees, creating opportunities for 93 people. This includes 22 apprentices and work experience for 6 college based apprentices.

People who have been placed on jobs have all previously been unemployed, many with barriers to getting into work such as disabilities and caring responsibilities. For some, it is their first job and they have gained valuable work experience, enabling them to get permanent jobs as a result.

The Council will continue to use its Beyond Bricks and Mortar initiative on all future WHQS schemes and seek to expand opportunities for training and apprenticeships.

vÊÞ ÕÊ >ÛiÊ> ÞʵÕiÃÌ ÃÊ ÀÊÜ Õ `Ê iÊ information about the schemes affecting Þ ÕÀÊ«À «iÀÌÞ]Ê« i>ÃiÊV Ì>VÌÊÞ ÕÀÊ ÃÌÀ VÌÊ Õà }Ê"vwVi°

6

Open House: Issue 2 2017