Projects

The approval supports a major recladding scheme at Elmgrove Point in Plumstead, where fire‑driven façade interventions have triggered opportunities to enhance the building’s thermal performance alongside essential life‑safety improvements.

The approved programme of works by housebuilder Vistry Group, includes the removal of the existing rainscreen cladding and Petrarch stone cladding and its replacement with Rockpanel. Vertical timber screens and privacy screens are being replaced with aluminium box sections and PIR insulation is being removed and replaced with non-combustible mineral wool. Decking is also being replaced with non‑combustible coverings.

Internally, electrical work is being carried out within the apartments and firestopping to service penetrations within communal areas is being improved. Collectively, these measures will significantly enhance the fire performance of the building.

In accordance with the Building Regulations, any intervention to external walls activates Part L requirements, meaning that all affected dwellings required assessment against current energy efficiency standards. AES Sustainability was therefore appointed to act as Part L consultants for the scheme, providing assessment and recommendations triggered by the removal and replacement of thermal elements as part of the façade remediation works.

The project involves multiple external wall types, each requiring individual analysis to confirm compliance or to justify reasonable improvement where full compliance could not be achieved.

Working closely with the wider design team, AES Sustainability assessed the thermal performance of the proposed replacement constructions, calculated elemental U‑values, undertook condensation risk analysis and provided advice on airtightness continuity and the mitigation of thermal bridging.

Where achieving full Part L compliance was not technically, functionally or financially feasible due to structural, dimensional, or design constraints, AES Sustainability prepared robust feasibility justifications in line with the regulatory allowances within Part L. These assessments ensured that fire safety interventions were not compromised, while still delivering measurable improvements to the building’s thermal envelope wherever practicable.

The resulting Part L report and supporting calculations formed part of the information submitted to the BSR, contributing to the successful granting of approval and enabling the project to proceed with a clear and agreed specification. The approval marks an important milestone for the scheme, demonstrating effective coordination between client, consultants and regulator in an increasingly rigorous approval environment.

Commenting on AES Sustainability’s contribution, Roxanne Nauth‑Misir, Technical Manager for Special Projects at Vistry Group, said: “AES consistently provided high quality support throughout the pre‑construction phase. Their proactive engagement and collaborative approach significantly contributed to the successful securing of BSR approval for Elmgrove Point, a major fire safety remedial scheme. Their detailed knowledge of BSR requirements and expectations was a considerable benefit to the Design Team.”

While fire safety remediation was the primary driver for the works and associated funding, the project highlights the importance of taking a holistic view of building performance. By integrating Part L considerations into a predominantly Part B‑led scheme, AES Sustainability has helped ensure that safety upgrades did not come at the expense of energy performance, reinforcing the principle that safer buildings can also be more thermally efficient and sustainable.

Works at Elmgrove Point are now due to commence on site in line with the approved specification, adding to AES Sustainability’s growing portfolio of higher‑risk residential remediation projects supported through the Building Safety Regulator process.

As regulatory scrutiny continues to increase, AES Sustainability remains committed to supporting clients through complex approval pathways and to delivering solutions that balance fire safety, compliance, and long‑term building performance for residents.