HINCROFT LTD

The original façade of Bradstowe House was constructed from aluminium composite panels, insulated render, insulated spandrel panels and high pressure laminated soffits. These materials were deemed combustible and non-compliant with the legislation introduced following the fire at Grenfell Tower.

Hincroft Ltd, the building owners, appointed Everlast to replace the existing façade with non-combustible (A1 rated) materials. All works and temporary access had to be planned around the live environment as the building remained fully occupied, with commercial and retail units on the ground floor in operation throughout. 

Bradstowe House is landlocked within Harrow’s major ring road and subsidiary one-way streets which do not allow parking. Furthermore, the local authority would not allow road or pavement closures for permanent access or parking, adding to the logistical complexity of the works.

Access to the works was by means of an independent scaffold system, the design of which facilitated ongoing use of the building by its residents and commercial units, including access to the underground car park and gym. The temporary works were designed in accordance with the local authorities’ requirements and calculated to ensure suitable design loads to allow the ground and building structure to withstand the scaffold. (Due to the underground car park, the scaffold design had to keep point loadings on the ground to a minimum).  

The existing ACM cladding was integrated within the curtain wall façade, this meant that each replacement rainscreen panel had to be accurately measured and made bespoke to its location on the building. To add to the challenge, Local Planning Authority conditions dictated that the new rainscreens had to match the original façade’s colour (Cornish Granite Stone). As a result, a variety of suppliers were engaged with but ultimately only one was able to achieve the correct match. Approximately 50% of the spandrel panels were internally glazed with finishes directly into the apartments, all of which had to be re-instated.

The building’s location and existing infrastructure posed a challenge to the creation of a suitable works compound. The solution was the conversion of some of the vacant ground floor premises to accommodate a site office, welfare, canteen, toilets, dry room and meeting room.

Close collaboration with the 24-hour concierge team ensured residents were kept fully informed and disruption to the building’s day to day operation minimised. On completion of the works, the building was certified A1 Fire Rating EWS1 certificate, resulting in a safe building for the tenants and a now valued asset for the building owner. 

Everlast Group has worked on a variety of refurbishment and new build across all sectors