Client 

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

 

Location 

Rochdale

 

Number of Homes 

12,000

 

Service 

FRAEW, Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment

 

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing 

Since the 1960s, the iconic residential towers of College Bank and Lower Falinge have towered over the Rochdale skyline, affectionately dubbed "The Seven Sisters." Crafted by Rochdale’s borough surveyor, Mr. W.H.G. Mercer, and Mr. E.V. Collins, George Wimpey and Company’s chief architect, these towers provided over 700 homes at a cost of £2.5 million.

 

Initially hailed as a beacon of quality affordable housing by Rochdale Borough Housing (RBH), changes in legislation and evolving regulations for buildings exceeding 18 metres raised doubts about the long-term viability of these structures. Seeking clarity, RBH turned to Peak for guidance in assessing the suitability of these towers for modern living and conducting gap analysis vis-à-vis new legislation.

 

RBH, well-versed in the operational intricacies of the towers, recognized the need for deeper insights into the buildings' fabric. Collaborating with our contractors, we devised a comprehensive plan to conduct facade investigations and internal surveys across all seven towers.

 

Over a two-week period, our teams meticulously navigated from tower to tower, gathering data and liaising with project leaders to minimise disruptions. Despite the uniformity of the buildings, each tower presented unique challenges, both in accessing internal components safely and assessing varying levels of risk.

 

Unlike typical Fire Risk Assessments and FRAEWs that often provide limited data, RBH aimed to exceed regulatory requirements, underscoring the importance of gathering extensive information. By project's end, our efforts yielded thousands of images and detailed reports, offering invaluable insights for the client.

 

While our inspections unearthed areas of concern, the overall prognosis is optimistic. The towers are poised to be spared from demolition, with manageable risks identified and feasible remedial plans on the horizon. We take pride in our contribution to safeguarding these architectural landmarks and facilitating RBH's commitment to providing safe and sustainable housing for the community.