Cygnus Court

From all of us at Equans, we wish you a happy Halloween.

A children's activity pack can be viewed and downloaded from our 'Documents Library'.

Please be careful if carving pumpkins and stay safe whilst trick or treating.

The slides from our resident project meeting presentation on 3rd October are now available to view and download from our Documents Library.

Please click here to see the slides in full.

Welcome to your resident's update from Equans. This is a great way for us to keep you up to date with all the work that has been going on so far and what we expect to achieve going forward.

If you have any queries about the works being undertaken by Equans, please direct your query to your appointed Resident Liaison Officer, Sanusi Conteh by calling 07855 967 608.

As you will be aware, Equans has been appointed by Southern Housing to replace cladding and associated fire remediation works at Cygnus Court.

Our progress so far:

Respite area: There is a respite facility for all residents which is located on Whytecliffe Road South at the Purley Community Hub, approximately a four minutes walk away. Feel free to use this facility to discuss urgent issues relating to the ongoing works, enjoy a quiet moment over a cup of coffee while watching television, take a break from the four walls of your flat to have fun with a friend of neighbour or enjoy the activities and update on the works on your site as directly relayed on our microsite.

Monoflex: The upgrading of the monoflex is now complete.

Weekly visits: Visits and door knocking are being carried out by Marc Harrison, the Project Manager for Southern Housing every Monday. If you have time, please share any questions about progress or any concerns you may have.

Roof investigations: There are ongoing as inconclusive at this present time. We will, of course, update you once we have the full picture. We understand that these investigations have been ongoing for some time and the updates you receive, seem repetitive but please be assured, Equans and Southern Housing are fully committed to putting things right, regardless of complexity and thank all residents for being so understanding.

Considerate Constructors Scheme: We are delighted to inform you of our Considerate Constructors visit at Cygnus Court on 27th September 2023 to carry out their first assessment of how we perform and how we engage with the wider community. They assess our impact on the environment and ensure we are being Considerate Constructors.

This was a fantastic experience as the visit will help to keep us on our toes with regards to full compliance with our obligations as responsible and reliable partners in the construction industry.

If you require any further information about the works being undertaken by Equans or would like to speak with the Site Manager, Mark, we encourage an open-door policy so feel free to pop down and say hello.

Monthly residents meeting: We would like to invite you to our next residents meeting taking place on 3rd October on Microsoft Teams from 6pm - a link to join this meeting will be sent to your email addresses. Your participation/attendance is most welcome as you will have the opportunity to express your opinions, views, concerns and ask questions about the ongoing works. Representatives from both Equans and Southern Housing will be present and we hope to see you there.

Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning: Join us on 28th September 2023 at 53 Whytecliffe Road South, CR0 2AZ where we will be fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Please click here to view a copy of the full Resident's Newsletter.

After receiving their very first audit from the Considerate Constructors Scheme last month, the Cygnus Court site team have achieved a fantastic score giving them an Excellent rating!

The team achieved near top marks in each of the three categories of 'Respect the Community', 'Care for the Environment' and 'Value their Workforce', achieving an impressive score of 43/45.

On 27^th September, a CCS monitor joined Senior Site Manager, Mark Rains for an on-site tour to carry out their audit of the site, commenting things like "At this stage of the project, where only investigative works are being carried out, an excellent level of conformance is achieved across the Scheme's requirements. I would anticipate that the high standard demonstrated today can be maintained and I trust that the works can be commenced soon."

The CCS is an independent organisation founded to raise standards in the construction industry to ensure all construction sites present an image of competent management, efficiency, awareness of environmental issues and above all neighbourliness. Monitors from the scheme regularly audit our sites to ensure we are adhering to the scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice which is designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirement.

Each audit is split into three categories; respect for the community, protecting the environment and valuing the workforce each with a potential score out of 15 with a total combined max score of 45 available. To score above 13 in any category warrants an excellent level of achievement for that category.

Congratulations to Mark and the rest of the site team, and well done for achieving a fantastic score.

The site teams at Whytecliffe Road and Cygnus Court joined together on 28^th September to host a coffee morning for their workforce and local residents in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Held at the Equans site office at Whytecliffe Road, members of both site teams including Resident Liaison Officers, Site Manaers and labourers attended to share in some refreshments and sweet treats to support the charity. They were also joined by staff from our supply chain including, Lee Scott from Craft Facades and John Salter from Turner Safety Solutions.

Prior to the day Senior Site Manager, Mark Rains, displayed posters and sent letters to local residents, advertising the event. On the day QR codes were on display so that everyone attending could donate to the charity’s great cause. A donation box was also available for cash donations.

After raising a fantastic £170 from the coffee morning, Mark commented: “Thank you for everyone’s support, and a well done to Bryonie for being the closest when guessing how many Colin the Caterpillars were on the poster. This is a great cause and one that is close to my heart after losing my Father to cancer. Macmillans provide excellent support to not just the individuals affected but also the families which is invaluable I can assure you.”

We're proud to be Associate Members of the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS).

The CCS is a national initiative set up by the construction industry to improve its image.

All Equans sites are registered with the CCS. Companies and sites registered are monitored against a Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements. The Code of Considerate Practice outlines the scheme's expectations and describes those areas that are considered fundamental for registration with the scheme, these include:

• Respect the Community: Constructors must manage their impact on their neighbourhoods and the public to support a positive experience.
• Care for the Environment: Constructors must minimise their impact and enhance the natural environment.
• Value the Workforce: Constructors must create a supportive, inclusive and healthy workplace.

As an Associate Member we also have access to the CCS's Best Practice Hub which hosts examples of construction industry best practice from across the UK, both best practice initiatives already in place or currently being developed.

One feature of the CCS Best Practice Hub is the 'Spotlight on..' which includes learning toolkits that address industrywide issues and aim to raise awareness, provide information and practical advice on how the construction industry can tackle the issue.

Through taking action to help tackle the issues highlighted, the construction industry can play an important role in making a difference, an ultimately, improve the image of construction.

The most recent Spotlight on, relates to Carbon Reduction - asking what net zero means for the industry and outlines easy and practical guidance to support companies' decarbonisation journey.

More information about the CCS Best Practice Hub or their 'Spotlight on..' feature can be found by visiting the CCS website here.

This is our commitment to you, working to the highest levels of consideration with regards to the public, our workforce and the environment. Our site will be independently assessed by experienced industry professionals, and we will use this to assess and benchmark our performance and strive for development and improvement.

Sites are scored out of 45, and at Equans our mean score is above the industry average.

For more information on the scheme, visit www.ccscheme.org.uk

We're sad to announce that Resident Liaison Officer (RLO), Trevon, has now left the scheme. On behalf of the rest of the site team we would like to thank Trevon for his efforts and time at Cygnus Court, he will be missed.

With Trevon leaving, we would like to announce the addition of new RLO, Sanusi Conteh. Sanusi will retain all of Trevon's previous responsibilities and duties and his contact details can be found within our 'Your Site Team' section of this website.

Please continue to direct your general queries and concerns to the project RLO, in case of an emergency please call our out of hours emergency number 0800 328 7244.

Please join us in welcoming Sanusi to the Cygnus Court team.

Thank you to everyone that attended our latest resident meeting held on Tuesday 5th September, please see the minutes from the meeting below.

Current progress: Equans are still undertaking and awaiting the results from structural surveys across the block and roof, hence the lack of progress across the whole site. Both Southern Housing and Equans informed residents that we are fully committed to ensuring that all works delivered, were to the highest standard and where any items of additional remediation works are required, a full and comprehensive approach would be taken to resolve the matter. As a result of this approach, the project has encountered delays.

Questions from residents:

Q: Timescales for the works to complete? Resident said the scaffold had been up for 6 months
The Site Manager, Mark Rains, commented that a very rough guess, works will run into the new year. Equans were still awaiting reports from surveys and subsequent timescales.

Q: Due to delays, is there additional parking available for residents at Purley Station?
The Site Manager confirmed he would speak to colleagues and confirm back to residents what support can be arranged.

Q: Balconies that have been stripped, can I use it?
The Site Manager, Mark Rains confirmed that residents can still use the balconies despite being stripped. The Site Manager will check the three stripped to ensure no protruding screws, but residents can use the balconies as normal. Mark Rains said that balconies are to be replaced back to the door which means doors will be locked at this time, this will be communicated to all when this will take place.

Q: Future progress meetings
The Contracts Manager, Lewis Morrell said that both Southern Housing and Equans were looking into producing progress slides and information for future meetings. These could also be added to the microsite post meeting.

Q: Southern Housing visits
The Southern Housing Project Manager, Marc Harrison informed residents that he would be knocking on doors during his weekly visits to site on a Monday. These visits would be to see how residents are coping and if they had any feedback or concerns.

Q: Marc Harrison asked if the newsletters had gone out to residents
The Southern Housing Project Manager, Marc Harrison asked if residents had all received the latest newsletter and residents confirmed they had and were happy with the information provided.

Q: Coffee morning reminder
The Site Manager, Mark Rains informed residents that there would be a Macmillan coffee morning which would be held at Whytecliffe Road South on Thursday 28th September, all will be welcome to attend and if possible, bring some cake, or if you are feeling ambitious maybe you could bake.

Both Southern Housing and Equans staff thanked residents for their patience during the delays, the constructive manner in which residents shared their comments and concerns, and lastly for attending the meeting. The Site Manager, Mark Rains said that he was on site very day and his door was always open if anyone had any questions/issues to please come and speak to him.

In aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, the Equans site team have arranged a coffee morning whereby residents are invited to join them for a spot of coffee and cake to help fundraise for this worthwhile charity.

Residents are invited to join the site team at the Whytecliffe Road site office, anytime after 10am on Thursday 28th September.

For more information please call your Resident Liaison Officer, Trevon on 07811 704 593.

Welcome to your resident's update from Equans. This is a great way for us to keep you up to date with all the work that has been going on so far and what we expect to achieve going forward.

If you have any queries about the works being undertaken by Equans, please direct your query to your appointed Resident Liaison Officer, Trevon Mengot by calling 07811704593.

As you will be aware, Equans has been appointed by Southern Housing to replace cladding and associated fire remediation works at Cygnus Court.

Programme update:

The programme of works at Cygnus has been delayed due to findings from structural surveys completed. It has been identified that there is damage to the existing timber frame caused by water penetration, in addition there are additional structural surveys being undertaken to confirm if the existing timber frame is sufficient to retain the weight of the new system.

Respite area: The respite area is now located at Whytecliffe Road South at the Purley Community Hub, approximately a four minute walk away. Despite our best efforts to provide a respite facility behind the hoarding to the front, there is a delay from TFL due to the closing off of Brighton Road and the impending lift replacement works have also meant that there's no space to set up a suitable respite in the car park. If you would like to have a look or use the facilities at Whytecliffe Road, please contact RLO, Trevon.

Balcony decking: These works are now in delay due to the discovery of water ingress when removing the old decking on three of the balconies. The remediation of this problem now sits with the structural engineers who will provide solutions to the problem encountered. This does unfortunately mean that the start date for these works is now delayed until a design is agreed. Residents will be notified of our intent to resume the balcony works and we will continue to issue a weekly update to all residents to pre-warn you of any upcoming works.

Monoflex: Monoflex is the white sheeting on the facade of the building. This material assists with keeping the building safe and dry in case of a fire. Currently the team are carrying out a change of monoflex to a better graded product, removing the remaining render where we can and carrying out gas and flue checks to ensure you're always kept safe.

Residents with electrical heating systems: Residents with these systems will not need to have their heating isolated during the removal of the external cladding. Residents with gas boilers and external flues will still need to be isolated and we will be in contact.

Further information: We advise all residents to close windows to prevent dust and debris from entering your flat during works.

If you require any further information about the works being undertaken by Equans or would like to speak with the Site Manager, Mark, we encourage an open-door policy so feel free to pop down and say hello.

Monthly residents meeting: We would like to invite you to our next residents meeting taking place on 5th September on Microsoft Teams from 6pm - we will send you a link.

Please click here to view a copy of the full Resident's Newsletter.