Lanes expertise supports radical plan to transform major estate

Lanes Group is delivering a comprehensive package of specialist drainage services to support a £27 million programme that is revitalising an entire community.

River Clyde Homes is managing the project to refurbish and transform the 667 properties in Broomhill, a neighbourhood in Greenock, Scotland.

It has commissioned Lanes Group to deliver all drainage cleaning, repair and rehabilitation services needed to support the project which is the biggest ever carried out by the Inverclyde-based housing association.

River Clyde Homes Project Officer Brenda Gibson said: “Lanes Group is doing a lot of very good work for us.

“We are asking them to do a lot of reactive work, and they are always very flexible, plus their communication with us and residents is excellent.”

The housing refurbishment project is one of the biggest in Scotland Most of Broomhill’s homes date from the late 1960s and early 1970s. At its heart are three multi-storey blocks, which will be radically transformed with an ultra-modern rain screen system to create dramatic new facades.

Over three years, until 2018, properties are being refurbished externally and internally, some will be demolished, and 20 new homes will be built.

An energy-efficient biomass district heating system will be installed, greatly reducing heating costs to combat fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions.

The Lanes Glasgow depot is managing the comprehensive drainage surveying and repair programme being carried out on behalf of River Clyde Homes.

Specialist teams working full-time on the project include a CCTV drainage survey crew, a patch lining crew, a jet vac tanker crew and up to three excavation crews.

The entire drainage system is being surveyed and repair plans put in place. In one four-month period, alone, 400 patch liners were installed to repair damaged pipes.

Chris Fairbairn, one of the Area Development Managers for Lanes Glasgow, said: “River Clyde Homes is sensibly taking a comprehensive view of the renewal work needed.

“Refurbishing the drainage system is just as important as improving homes and the environment you can see.

“This will bring Broomhill’s drainage system into the 21st Century and ensure the areas surface water and foul water systems are fit for purpose and have the capacity to serve the community for years to come.

“We are delighted to be working for River Clyde Homes on this project. Our teams share the excitement of the housing team and the residents in achieving something special that will make a huge difference to thousands of people.”

A bespoke system has been put in place so Brenda Gibson and her team can keep track of the drainage programme and prioritise work flow, so it is integrated with other elements of the project and is cost-effective.

Chris Fairbairn said: “We make sure we turn around our drainage survey reporting within a week. I can then take these reports to a weekly meeting with the project team so they can decide what remedial work needs to be done.

“This way, we are keeping the drainage repair and rehabilitation work on track, and making sure it is coordinated effectively with above ground work carried out by other contractors.”