Our projects

Phoenix has successfully carried out refurbishment projects in which not only do we create homes for our members but we strengthen the skills and employability of those who volunteer to get trained while helping carry out the works. To make this possible we build relationships with landlords who have empty buildings and coming to agreements that allow us to bring these back into use.

We are currently seeking properties that are privately owned (not by registered housing providers) and have been empty for at least six months. The aim is to negotiate a medium-to-long-term lease, reflecting the work that our members put in to return the property to use.

We have so far carried out two such projects:

Sumner House

In 2009 Phoenix renovated four flats that were long term void properties on a housing estate in E3. The flats had chronic rising damp, no kitchen, bathrooms or central heating systems, and had boarded up windows and front doors.

Sumner House, tiling — the attention to detail was the norm

Sumner House, gas meter — the gas meter is finally installed

Sumner House, loft — preparing the loft insulation

Sumner House, insulation material transport — improvising means of transport

Sumner House, insulation — rain or snow, to insulate we go!

crew on break — the crew is getting a well deserved break

Sumner House, floor — some of us had never seen what a naked floor looked like

Sumner House, wall painting — paint paint paint paint!

Phoenix taking the renovation project meant that:

The cost of the renovation project was under 25% of the original quote for the works given by the landlord.
A team of 20 co-operative members had the opportunity to develop new skills and improve their experience of building and construction skills working alongside the Site Manager installing kitchens, bathrooms, central heating systems and new Damp Proof Coursing (DPC) systems
Wherever possible Phoenix used recycled, donated and non-toxic environmentally friendly materials.

Spey Street

our presence in the community was amplified by this beautiful banner

In July 2011 Phoenix undertook the renovation of nine studio flats in Poplar which had all been decommissioned and boarded up for over 5 years. The flats all required rewiring, re-plumbing, new kitchens and bathrooms and new boilers and central heating systems.

Working alongside co-operative member volunteers, Phoenix recruited external trainees from the College of North West London and the charity Women in Construction. Co-operative volunteers and trainees all benefited from access to:

Group and individual training support from the Site Manager
Professional mentoring and job-coaching from the Employment, Training and Education (ETE) Co-ordinator
Hands-on experience in carrying out all aspects of the renovation project
Work experience and professional references to help them gain employment at the end of the renovation project.

Over 50 volunteers and external trainees took part in the project and contributed over 1500 hours to completing the renovation of the flats.

Spey Street, room — the rooms had to be stripped bear before we could refit them

Spey Street, kitchen — kitchens posed the biggest challenge

The official launch of the flats was held in January 2012, presided by Jim Fitzpatrick, MP for Poplar and Limehouse.