Laings Easiform Homes Redevelopment

Award outcome

Description

Laing Easiform homes are a form of non-traditional construction built from the 1920s to 1970s using in-situ poured concrete walls within reusable steel formwork. While not designated as defective under the Housing Defects Act 1984, some dwellings have reached the end of their economic life due to structural deterioration and corrosion of embedded reinforcement. As part of Exeter City Council's wider regeneration and housing quality improvement programmes, a number of Laing Easiform homes were earmarked for reconstruction in 2015. Several homes have since been demolished and rebuilt; however, a number of properties are incomplete following insolvency of the original contractor, resulting in yet to be commenced and part-built structures that have stood dormant for some time. Following a review of options, the current intention is to demolish these partially constructed dwellings. In some cases, this will involve the rebuilding of only one side of a semi-detached pair, where the adjoining dwelling remains occupied and under separate freehold. Exeter City Council is now preparing to re-engage the market to deliver the remainder of the homes, ensuring that the design, construction approach, and delivery model are appropriate to the complexity of the site and the various stages of progress across each of the properties.