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Ealing Council prepares to appoint Axis Europe and W.G. Wiggingtons for a \u00a3185 million overhaul of social housing repairs, focusing on fire safety and ageing M&E systems in a wider push across London to modernise housing infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ealing Council is preparing to appoint two contractors, Axis Europe and W.G. Wiggingtons, for a significant \u00a3185 million mechanical and electrical (M&E) repairs programme targeting residential blocks over the next decade. The initiative focuses on addressing critical safety risks highlighted in the council\u2019s Housing Risk Register, particularly within its Higher Risk Building (HRB) stock. The project involves substantial fire remediation work and the replacement of ageing M&E systems in blocks dating back to the 1960s, many of which have exceeded their expected lifecycle and suffered from years of underinvestment.<\/p>\n
A council report emphasises that the deteriorating condition of these systems, including lateral and rising mains, poses unacceptable risks to resident safety and comfort. Current system failures have resulted in increased reliance on temporary power solutions, inflating repair costs annually. To remedy this, the council has allocated an initial budget of \u00a395 million for the first five years, with a potential extension that could nearly double the expenditure to \u00a3185 million over ten years. The contracts awarded to the two firms, structured as five-year design and build agreements with extension options, will cover comprehensive scoping, designing, and replacement of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services across both high-rise and low-rise council housing throughout the borough.<\/p>\n
The delivery of all high-rise work will adhere to the Building Safety Regulator\u2019s gateway approval process, ensuring compliance with stringent new requirements for maintaining detailed building information. The contracts will be governed by the JCT 2016 Design and Build agreement, reflecting modern procurement practices for large-scale public infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n
Ealing’s strategy aligns with broader sector trends aiming to address the extensive backlog of maintenance and safety upgrades in social housing. Notably, other large London-based housing providers and local authorities are similarly progressing major frameworks and contracts to improve their housing stock. For instance, Notting Hill Genesis recently awarded a \u00a31.5 billion framework for repairs and maintenance, including substantial M&E works, involving Axis Europe among other contractors. This contract spans an initial four-year period with options to extend to 15 years and encompasses a wide range of works from installation to maintenance services targeted at enhancing safety and decarbonisation in social housing.<\/p>\n
Similarly, the Communities and Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) has developed a \u00a3400 million, four-year M&E framework for refurbishment and new-build projects across the UK, focusing on low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps and PV installations alongside traditional heating and electrical systems. Such frameworks reflect industry-wide moves to integrate sustainability with safety and reliability in housing maintenance.<\/p>\n
Local authorities like Westminster City Council are also undertaking major reprocurement efforts for housing repairs, aiming to consolidate multiple contracts into strategically aligned alliances worth up to \u00a3600 million over ten years. These wider initiatives underscore a concerted effort to modernise housing infrastructure while enhancing resident satisfaction, operational efficiency, and compliance with evolving regulatory standards.<\/p>\n
Ealing Council\u2019s approach, awarding contracts borough-wide with work distribution based on need and contractor performance, mirrors best practices seen in other regions. It seeks to reduce failures in critical services and the associated financial impacts from temporary fixes. The focus on comprehensive M&E replacement and fire remediation signals a proactive stance on building safety, particularly critical following heightened regulatory scrutiny in the wake of the Building Safety Act.<\/p>\n
The deployment of experienced contractors like Axis Europe and W.G. Wiggingtons, both involved in other major social housing contracts, suggests a robust capacity to deliver the complex and high-stakes works required. This appointment will contribute to ongoing efforts across London and the UK to address the safety and maintenance challenges of ageing social housing stock while supporting broader goals such as decarbonisation and resident well-being.<\/p>\n