Hockmore Tower in Oxford getting a facelift with giant aluminium 'envelope'

Cowley's residential tower block in Oxford, UK, is abuzz with the sounds of drills and machinery as the biggest refurbishment work in the locality's history is currently under way. Workers from Willmott Dixon Energy Services have started work on Hockmore Tower in Pound Way. Plans are on to encase the building in a giant aluminium 'envelope'.

Construction manager Richard Crook said: "Hockmore has its own challenges logistically because it's on top of a shopping centre. We are working with [Templars Square shopping centre owners] New River Retail, who are helping facilitate us getting up on roofs, and work is progressing nicely."

The 58-flat tower is third of Oxford’s five similar properties to under a revamp under the £20m project. Unlike other towers which are supposed to get an over-cladding each, Hockmore will be given an aluminium 'curtain wall system' – a thin non-structural covering made of aluminium, to keep weather effects out.

The aluminium curtain walling system- the ‘envelope’ that is, will be fixed straight onto the existing building structure within next few weeks.

Refurbishment work is on in other buildings as well. Aluminium cladding at Evenlode Tower has already started; the entire repair work is scheduled to be completed by February 2017.

Mike Rowley, Oxford City Council's board member for housing, said: "I’m delighted to see the remarkable progress being made in the transformation of our tower blocks. "Increasing the life of the tower blocks means guaranteeing the provision of good quality, affordable housing for our residents for another generation.”