Two historic Edinburgh housing blocks are set to benefit from a 'once-in-a-lifetime' retrofit due to damp and mould issues throughout.
Both Oxcars Court and Inchmickery Court, in Muirhouse, were built in the 1950s and due to their age, have shown a slow decline in structure and conditions in which residents are forced to live in.
Issues including a general lack of maintenance, the buildings age, design issues and construction methods, the two blocks are set for a huge refit instead of being demolished, although considerable construction work will take place including the enlargement of windows and balconies, as well as improved access to daylight.
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As reported by Urban Realm, the retrofit is set to form part of a broader package and masterplan and landscape works for the 3.5 hectare site.
According to a design and access statement, both Oxcars Court and Inchmickery Court suffer from a 'similar range of issues' including the fact balustrades and wind posts have been used beyond their suggested lifespan, deeming them dangerous and structurally unsound.
It continues: "Each building was constructed with a complicated exoskeleton structure, and without insulation. Exposed concrete beams and columns create direct cold bridges which exacerbate mould and damp issues within the properties.
"Dimensionally constrained access decks, small windows, unwelcoming communal spaces, under-utilised Ground Floor spaces, and confusing entrances compound the problems these building suffer from. Within the wider environment, these buildings sit largely exposed within an uninviting and underwhelming landscape.
"Combined, this leads to an undesirable place for residents to live. In addition to these issues, no dwelling within either block performs to a rating higher than grade ‘C’ (with the majority sitting between ‘D’ and ‘F’) on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This leads to increasing energy consumption and exacerbates fuel poverty issues for residents."
Input from residents and the council will be encouraged at local consultation events which will ultimately help inform the direction to be taken. To view the full plans, you can do so by clicking here.
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