Earlier this week, Lambeth Living’s Director of Property Services, David Thompson, was given a tour of Weir Estate to see the transformation one of his departments, Major Works, has made to residents homes and transforming the estate.

A year after Mr Thompson who oversees repairs and major works to Lambeth properties was tackled by WERA over the outdated 60 year old windows and doors which blighted resident’s lives, returned to see the changes made to the estate after the installation of new double glazed windows and more secure doors alongside a new paint job. With works just weeks off completion, WERA’s chair invited the Director of Property Services who was accompanied by Major Works Manager Keith Hardy.

During the visit they were shown the new look blocks and met with site staff from Breyer Group. During the visit they gave an insight into the program which has included four other Lambeth Estates to the estimated tune of millions of pounds of investment to improve home of residents living on Weir Estate and other homes across the borough. The windows program began a year ago, with the sight of finishing moving ever closer.
Mr Thompson and Mr Hardy also met with WERA’s Treasurer, Sue Cranmer who told of the impact it had on her and her family not to mention to the reduction of heating costs.

Mr Thompson was also told of the efforts by WERA to improve the estate with various projects planned such as a new community garden and painting of estate railings.

Following his visit, Director Mr Thompson said of the discussion with Sue Cranmer and the impact the works have had “Particularly impressive was the comments of the resident we met, I think she was the Weir TRA treasurer. She said because of the new windows her home was warmer than it has ever been and her heating bills had reduced and her children had no winter colds which for her family was exceptional.”

Mr Thompson who has been a Lambeth Housing Director for four years, responsible for the day to day responsive repairs service, planned maintenance programme and the decent homes program to bring Lambeth properties up to a decent living standard added “I thought the working relationship with the contractor Breyer was very good with mutual respect for the role of contractor and residents in sorting out any issues. All in all the appearance has been greatly enhanced on Weir Estate.”

Major Works Manager Keith Hardy praised the level of work which has taken place thanks to a joint campaign by WERA’s Chair and local Labour councillors after Weir Estate was left off the LHC5 Program to improve homes “I am very pleased to see the outcome of the Weir Estate major works improvement project and to witness the improvement to the quality of the estate environment as a result of these works. I am delighted that residents welcome the new double glazed windows and high security front entrance doors installed to their homes.”
Over the past year nearly all senior management of Lambeth’s ALMO including the Chief Executive, Cathy Deplessis have made visits to see the transformation of Weir Estate.

WERA Treasurer, Sue Cranmer said after the visit “We are pleased with the impressive impact the works have had on our estate and to the lives of residents and their families which is the main focus of this association.”

Sue added “We are very fortunate to have a great Chair who has worked very hard to make this happen and the work of local councillors. We are glad Mr Thompson and Mr Hardy came to see the difference to the estate and that the decision to include Weir Estate was the right decision after sixty years of neglected windows and doors.”

Work to remove scaffolding across the estate has continued with just three more blocks to see the scaffold removed, which is on course to be completed by the end of May.

Most blocks have now also had a fresh coat of paint.

Mr Thompson has also taken part in wera.org.uk’s exclusive inside interviews which is available now HERE