Revised plan for renovating mould-affected housing complexes in Edinburgh is presented for approval

The development company Stallan-Brand has lodged a planning application to retrofit two council housing blocks in Edinburgh, Scotland, as part of the wider revamp of the Muirhouse Estate. The project, set to commence with the overhaul of Oxcars Court and Inchmickery Court in January 2024, subject to approval, is considered an "extremely complex building typology."

The buildings, constructed in the 1960s, have an "extremely poor heat loss form factor" due to their shallow plan depth, high surface-to-volume ratio, and lack of insulation. This, combined with the open access decks, exposed concrete exoskeleton, architectural detailing with multiple complicated junctions, and the buildings' large scale, makes the project a challenging undertaking.

The exposed concrete beams and columns create direct cold bridges, exacerbating mould and damp issues within the properties. This has been a significant concern, given that the two housing blocks, with a size of 9,015m2 each, were riddled with mould and damp.

Since the tragic death of Awaab Ishak at the end of last year, it is now law that landlords cannot leave tenants in damp and mouldy homes. The retrofit project, therefore, presents a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to improve the lives of over 150 families living in the properties.

The aim is to eliminate fuel poverty by bringing the homes up to, and beyond, current standards. The project is expected to address the heat loss issues by improving insulation, addressing the cold bridges, and enhancing the energy efficiency of the buildings.

Further planning applications will follow to cover the masterplan and landscape proposals for the remaining 3.5ha plot. The development is backed by the City of Edinburgh Council and aims to give a "whole building retrofit" to the 11-storey concrete-framed blocks.

The search results do not provide information about who submitted the retrofit building plans for Oxcars Court and Inchmickery Court. Despite this, the anticipation for the start of work in January 2024 continues to grow, as the project promises to significantly improve the living conditions for many families in Edinburgh.

Revised plan for renovating mould-affected housing complexes in Edinburgh is presented for approval