Critical Cladding Remediation at Fresh in Salford
Fresh in Salford is a ten-storey residential development comprising approximately 140 apartments. We have managed the building since 2017, when specialist inspections identified the presence of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding. This assessment made Fresh one of the earliest buildings in the country to require a full remediation programme.
Early Identification and Immediate Safety Measures
Following post-Grenfell inspections, material testing and specialist surveys, ACM was confirmed at Fresh. With no government support available at the time, we acted swiftly to protect residents by introducing a waking watch and subsequently installing a new fire alarm system. These interim measures allowed the building to remain occupied while long-term remediation plans were developed.
Funding Approach and Leaseholder Protection
A critical aspect of the project was to secure the funding. A claim was submitted under the building warranty just before the ten-year cover expired. The warranty provider initially rejected the claim but later accepted it after our persistent appeals. Even though the policy limit did not cover the full cost, we delivered further support through the government’s Private Sector Cladding Remediation Fund.
Additional funding applications
As the scope for the project widened we needed to apply for additional funding applications, These applications were for the replacement of apartment windows and the complete remediation of the external façades. The final project value reached approximately £17 million, with leaseholders making no financial contribution. Additionally, Fresh Apartments Leaseholders Association (the Formal Residents’ Association), supported by us, successfully pursued a complaint against the warranty provider. This effort helped secure compensation of over £250,000 towards interim costs initially covered by the leaseholders.
Delivery on a Complex Site
The Fresh building sits in a constrained city-centre location. Three elevations are landlocked, with the front facing a busy road, and the main railway line into Manchester running within metres of the block. We also secured access agreements with neighbouring landowners and managed the permission from the local authority for scaffolding on the roadside elevation. Once permission was agreed we coordinated with Network Rail to plan the scaffold installation and removal.
Additional works identified
Works began in March 2021, and the project team initially expected it to take just over a year with a budget of around £7 million. However, the investigations soon revealed issues with the original window installations, adding full window replacement to the scope. This required careful planning of access to every apartment, including legal steps in a few cases to enable contractor entry. These additional works, along with approvals for variations, extended the programme with practical completion in June 2025. Throughout the extended timeframe and with an increasing project budget, we successfully secured the appropriate funding at every stage.
Working with Residents
Throughout the project we placed a strong emphasis on transparent communication. We also supported the Association’s complaint to the warranty provider, which led to more than £250,000 compensation for leaseholders.
Outcomes for Leaseholders and Marketability
Completion of the project delivered a safe external envelope and new windows across the building. The fire engineer’s reassessment confirmed an EWS1 rating of A1, the highest level of assurance used by mortgage lenders and the best possible outcome. This restored leaseholders’ ability to remortgage or sell their apartments after years of restrictions. For many residents, this marks the end of a long period of uncertainty and offers an opportunity to move forward with confidence.
Continuing to Add Value
With major remediation complete, attention has turned to the interior of the building. We’re now working with the Formal Residents’ Association, contractors and an interior designer on the refurbishment, redecoration, and recarpeting so that internal areas match the renewed exterior. This phase has been funded with the surplus contributions raised by residents for the cladding works along with compensation secured by the Formal Residents’ Association. This shows how a collaborative relationship established during critical building works can provide a strong platform for continued improvements.
Lessons for the Industry
This project has helped shape the way we approach similar projects across the UK. It highlights the importance of our specialist Projects Team. Having such a team allows us to manage funding pathways and coordinate work on constrained urban sites, while maintaining consistent engagement with residents. We have embedded these capabilities across our business, enabling us to respond confidently to evolving building safety requirements. It demonstrates our ability to manage complex property challenges while combining immediate risk mitigation. This project also serves as an early example for the wider industry on how to address post-Grenfell development issues.
Credentials The Affiliations and Accreditations of Members of Premier Estates staff include…
