THURROCK Council is set to update prefabricated homes built following the Second World War.

Architects have been appointed to insulate and provide new windows for 20 Airey houses in Ridgewell Avenue, Orsett.

Mears Group Ltd, ECD Architects, Michael Dyson & Associates and Keegans Group have been appointed to "retrofit 206 Thurrock council-owned properties made with non-traditional construction methods".

A planning application has been submitted for improvements to 20 of the properties built by Sir Edwin Airey who was a Leeds-based builder.

Airey houses were designed for swift construction following the war. A total of 26,000 Airey houses were built between 1945 and 1955.

The precast homes were covered with shiplap concrete panels but many are now blighted by deterioration of the concrete and erosion of embedded steel supports.

If approved, the work will include adding external wall insulation, loft insulation and replacing external windows or doors. The works aims to "improve the energy efficient performance of the homes and as a result reduce the energy bills".

A report to planning officers by the architects said: "The whole house, fabric first retrofit of the Airey council owned properties is progressive step towards the decarbonisation of the council owned housing stock contributing towards the governments overall net zero target.

"These measures not only contribute to a wider goal of decarbonisation but at an individual level also make a large positive impact by significantly reducing the predicted heat demand and thus lowering bills for residents within these homes."

They added: "With these improvements, the quality of living for the tenants should also improve with the Works resulting in a reduced risk of condensation and mould growth which are known to adversely affect health.

"The proposed measures will give good continuity of insulation, and make use of any building fabric elements or fittings that have a long lifespan remaining."