• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Tuesday May 7 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Construction firm Beard starts work on first RAAC removal project

Construction firm Beard has started work on its first project to remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete – or RAAC – from a public building.

The Swindon-headquartered firm is working to remove RAAC roof panels from the Town Centre House, a block of flats owned by the council in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

The £2 million project, on behalf of Cherwell District Council and won through competitive tender, is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

RAAC is a lightweight concrete, filled with bubbles. If water gets into it, the material starts to break down.

The RAAC scandal dominated headlines at the end of the summer holidays in 2023. More than 100 school buildings in England were ordered by the government to be closed while safety measures were installed after a beam collapsed at a school.

RAAC was subsequently found to be present in public buildings including former council houses, hospitals, museums, court buildings, and even in the Houses of Parliament.

Beard is replacing the panels at Town Centre House with a timber roof structure and waterproof felt system to make the building safe and watertight.

Beard’s work on the building also includes refurbishing the inside of the block and altering the layout to include some larger flats. It will also update mechanical and electrical services.

The Town Centre House has been empty since 2022 when Cherwell District Council relocated tenants as a precautionary measure, shortly after national government alerted local authorities about the potential risks of RAAC concrete.

Dean Averies, Beard’s Oxford director, said: “We are proud to be refurbishing the Town Centre House so that it can be returned to housing use.

“We really value our work with Cherwell District Council, especially as the area is local to us, and we hope to continue our excellent working relationship.

“Beard is well placed to deliver this vital project, given our long-standing expertise in refurbishment for public and private sector organisations.”