Tower blocks transformed
Tuesday June 1, 2010
Work has started to turn three tower blocks in Shepherds Bush into the most environmentally friendly council homes in the country.
The 24-storey blocks in the Edward Woods estate are to be insulated and have colourful cladding panels and giant solar panels installed in a scheme that could generate enough electricity to power the communal parts of the building.
The £16million flagship project in Queensdale Crescent is set to become a model for environmental schemes across the country. Work has now begun on all three blocks.
As well as generating enough power to run the blocks' lifts, communal lighting, door entry systems and CCTV, the coloured design of the cladding panels will serve to brighten up the estates and preserve the building for years to come.
As well as generating energy, the cladding panels will serve as insulation and protect the towers from the elements.
The solar panels will generate energy and will be on the sunniest south facade of the tower blocks to maximise their effect.
Two wind turbines will be placed on top of each of the blocks to generate energy.
H&F cabinet member Lucy Ivimy said: "This is a unique and exciting scheme which I am very happy to support.
"It will save energy and the eye-catching design will make the estate a more welcoming place to live.
"It's a major scheme. I'm not aware of anything else on this scale in London and it's exactly the kind of creative scheme that we encourage."
As part of a continuing series of improvements an ageing block was demolished and replaced with a new park in the centre of the estate several years ago.
