£1.3m repair bill for structural repairs to 1970s Cambridge City Council flats

About £1.3million will be spent on structural repairs for six blocks of 1970s flats in Cambridge.

A survey of the city council-owned flats in Bermuda Terrace Estate, off Histon Road found structural and fabric defects.

Officers told last week’s housing scrutiny committee meeting that an initial estimate for repair was £800,000 but it is now expected to cost around £500,000 more.

Six months of repair work are due to start in April.

Cllr Richard Swift (Lab, West Chesterton) was “surprised” by the rise.

Officers said quotes were put forward by various contractors, but the recommendation for the £1.3m bid was based on an assessment of the quality of the bids.

Cllr Jenny Gawthrope Wood (Lab, King’s Hedges) asked if payment options would be offered to leaseholders who would have to pay for their share of the work, as she was conscious that these payments “could be difficult for leaseholders”.

Officers said leaseholders had been aware of the project for a number of years and would not be expected to pay until the work was finished.

The council will consider individual circumstances and will be willing to make payment agreements if needed.

Diane Best, a tenant representative, highlighted that work had previously been done to the balconies and asked if leaseholders would be charged for it again.

Officers said some resurfacing work had been done around 10 years ago, but there had been movement in the building since then that had caused some balconies to leak.

They anticipated that leaseholders would have to pay again.