PROJECT PROFILE

Cedar House, Northampton: Coordinated Façade Remediation

INTRODUCTION

Cedar House is a multi-storey residential building in Upton, Northampton, featuring occupied homes and private balconies near landscaped public areas, requiring careful planning for access and safety.

Starfish Construction was appointed as the Principal Contractor to develop the remedial façade design, coordinate fire and structural input, validate existing construction, and deliver the replacement façade works.

The project involved more than replacing the external finish; it required a coordinated building-envelope solution that considered residents, retained fabric, and multiple fire-safety interfaces.

CEDAR HOUSE, NORTHAMPTON

Project Highlights at a Glance

Location: Upton, Northampton.
Sector: Occupied residential.
Our Role: Principal Contractor with design coordination responsibility.
Scope of Works: Façade remediation, testing and investigation, design coordination, fire-safety works, aluminium support system, non-combustible cladding and resident liaison.

DURATION

5 Months

FAÇADE REMEDIATED

Approx. 600 m²

EVIDENCE-LED FAÇADE REMEDIATION
BUILDING THE SOLUTION ON TESTING AND EVIDENCE

Developing an effective remediation strategy began with understanding the existing building and validating the conditions that would influence the replacement façade.
Starfish Construction reviewed the available project information and developed the remedial design around the identified external wall risks. Utility surveying and pull-out testing helped establish concealed service locations, substrate capacity and fixing performance before the main installation phase.

The façade inspection and technical survey team assessed the existing timber cladding and rendered interfaces, along with window and door surrounds, penetrations, support systems, flashings and sealants. This evidence reduced uncertainty and allowed the design package to be progressively developed around verified building conditions rather than assumptions.

Delivering Safely Around an Occupied Residential Building

Cedar House remained occupied while the façade remediation was planned and delivered. We considered and developed a plan for resident access, private balconies, public routes, vehicle movements, and parking, as well as scaffold, material-handling, and façade-removal activities.

Our scaffold and access team designed working platforms, supported by controlled work zones, pedestrian barriers, signage, CCTV, liaison arrangements and managed on-time deliveries. These controls separated residents and visitors from the works while maintaining practical access around the development.

Resident and site team safety is paramount at Starfish Construction, and the project progressed through a five-month programme with no recorded accidents, incidents, RIDDOR events, improvement notices or non-conformances.

Fire Safety Coordination

INTEGRATING FIRE PROTECTION ACROSS THE ELEVATIONS

Fire protection had to work as part of the complete external wall system, not as a series of isolated components.

The replacement works incorporated continuity across horizontal, vertical and window-surround fire barriers, together with fire collars at service penetrations. These elements were coordinated with the aluminium support system, cladding layout and surrounding construction as one design package.

This approach helped address potentially vulnerable interfaces between the carrier system, façade components, openings and penetrations and supported consistent installation across the elevations.

WORKING AROUND RETAINED COMPONENTS

Downpipes, electrical vents and lights, balcony balustrades, windows and doors all interfaced with the façade. We surveyed and incorporated these elements into the reinstatement design, temporarily removing and carefully reinstating items as required, with new flashings and sealants to complete the interfaces.

Coordinating the cladding, carrier, fire protection and weathering as one external wall system reduced the risk of gaps at technical interfaces and supported consistent installation on site.

Protecting the Building's Established Appearance

The elevations combined timber-effect cladding with retained render, making colour and finish selection an important part of the remediation. We prepared comparison information and arranged physical samples against the existing materials so the client team could assess the proposed finish in context.

The sample process allowed us to consider appearance, fixing performance, buildability and integration with the retained fabric before installation, helping the new non-combustible system respect the building's character.

St George's Island Manchester Facade remediation

RESIDENT AND STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATION

Maintaining Transparent Communication and an Auditable Record

Through our Resident and Stakeholder Hub, weekly reporting and direct access to the Resident Liaison Officer and Site Management Team gave residents and project stakeholders a clear route to current programme information, planned activities and project queries.

Together with progressive design submissions, sample approvals and client reviews, this created an auditable record of decisions and progress from planning and design through to delivery.

LEAVING A POSITIVE LEGACY

A Controlled Route from Design to Delivery

The completed works replaced approximately 600 m² of timber-clad external wall areas with a coordinated non-combustible cladding solution supported by a new aluminium carrier system and an A2-rated breather membrane.

More than 1,000 linear metres of horizontal, vertical and window-surround fire barriers were incorporated, together with fire collars at penetrations and coordinated treatment of windows, doors, services, rainwater goods and balconies. On completion of the works, an EWS1 form was issued.

Coordinating Complex Façade Remediation with Confidence

FROM EVIDENCE TO DELIVERY

Cedar House demonstrates our ability to combine investigation, testing, design development, product selection, fire-safety coordination and occupied-building delivery within a single controlled package.

For those responsible for building safety, asset performance, and investment decisions, the project provides practical evidence of how we translate complex external wall risks into a safer, more robust, and maintainable façade solution, supported by testing, design records, and controlled delivery.

CONTROLLED FAÇADE DESIGN AND DELIVERY IN AN OCCUPIED ENVIRONMENT

Cedar House shows how investigation, testing, technical coordination and construction delivery can be connected to manage façade remediation safely around occupied homes.

The project showcases:

Principal Contractor delivery with design coordination responsibility.
Testing and investigation used to inform the developing façade solution.
Careful integration of windows, doors, services, rainwater goods and balcony components.
Resident access and communication maintained throughout a five-month programme.
No recorded accidents, incidents, RIDDOR events, improvement notices or non-conformances.

For building owners, asset managers, managing agents and consultants, Cedar House provides practical evidence of Starfish Construction's ability to take façade remediation from investigation and testing through design coordination to controlled delivery, while managing the added responsibilities of an occupied residential environment.

BUILDING ENVELOPE

CLADDING

RESIDENT LIAISON

TECHNICAL SURVEYING

“Starfish Construction delivered an excellent service throughout the Cedar House project. Communication across planning, design and delivery was clear and consistent, and the Resident and Stakeholder Hub kept everyone connected. The site team worked efficiently to minimise disruption and remained readily available to discuss project matters. The standard of quality, safety management and project delivery was excellent, and we would have no hesitation in working with Starfish Construction again.”

CLIENT PROJECT REPRESENTATIVE

Robert Morgan, Director of Projects Midlands, London & South. commented: “It was a pleasure to work with the client and project team at Cedar House. The positive feedback reflects the effort of everyone involved and our focus on clear communication, quality and considerate delivery throughout the project.”