Multi-million pound revamp finally signed off for tired tower block

Construction company Seddon will completely transform Alfred Gunn House, in Langley Green, with a £12 million renovation programme.

The plans were initially announced in November 2018 before the tendering process took place.

An extra 10 two-bedroom flats will also be built on the roof with redundant storage sheds on the ground floor being removed to create a further four two-bedroom apartments.

The scheme also includes 16 much-needed new council homes on land next to Alfred Gunn in Old Hobiscus Lane, bringing the authority's overall investment in the area to £14 million.

Councillor Joanne Hadley, Sandwell's cabinet member for homes, said: "It's great news that this contract has been awarded and we can look forward to a major facelift for Alfred Gunn House as well as another 16 new council homes nearby.

"One of our priorities for this block was to look at how we could remodel the flats to suit the changing needs of our tenants and to increase the number of affordable homes in the area."

External improvements to Alfred Gunn House include new windows and external cladding, improvements to balconies, a new roof and extra parking for tenants and visitors.

Further internal refurbishment work will see existing lifts replaced and upgraded fire protection along with new decoration and lighting to communal areas and corridors plus improved entrance and security systems.

Alfred Gunn House - which is 10 storeys high - currently has 120 flats and is made up of three interlinked blocks with two stair cases - one on either side of the building - will also get an extra mid-point staircase.

Other remodelling works will see 57 three-bedroom flats re-configured to two bedrooms in a bid to make them more attractive to tenants, tackling the relatively high turnover and shorter than average tenancies the block currently suffers from.

Refurbishment work to the house is expected to begin in early 2020.