About the estate
Based in Hanwell, the 264 homes that make up the Highlane estate are mostly a mixture of two bed maisonettes and three bed flats. The estate was built in the 1970s using a BISON large panel system.
The estate had Decent Homes works to kitchens and bathrooms completed in 2007, and externally it was assessed for Decent Homes in 2010; although the only works necessary were to communal areas and security systems.
However, despite the Decent Homes works, the condition is no longer fit for purpose. There are significant issues surrounding damp and mould growth made worse by condensation across the estate, alongside serious improvements being needed to the outside environment and public realm to encourage better use of the space.
A specialist architectural consultant HTA was appointed to run a series of consultation events with estate residents to establish the main issues affecting the estate and develop options for improvement.
Over a five month period there was a large drop-in event, an estate walkabout and two workshops to look at what could be done to the estate to make the improvements necessary to produce a sustainably good place to live. The main issues identified by residents were:
- lack of private outdoor space
- not enough parking
- poor rubbish stores
- poorly arranged block entrance towers
- poor signage
- drainage problems
- old windows and poor insulation
- some severe instances of condensation and mould growth