Homes in Forfar are being wrapped in a new winter coat in a bid to deal with the persistent cold weather.
Council properties and several private flats in the Viewmount area of the town are being given a new protective coating of insulation to help reduce fuel bills and make the homes easier to heat.
The work is part of a £200,000 investment by Angus Council part- funded by the Scottish Government’s Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) spread across 16 weeks of work, which also includes plans to improve security doors on the properties.
Convener of neighbourhood services Donald Morrison welcomed the investment and said the project could be of great benefit to occupiers.
“The council already has a rolling programme of insulation works for its housing but we have recently been able to take advantage of the Government’s UHIS to put external insulation on blocks of flats where there is a mix of council tenants and owner-occupiers,” Mr Morrison said.
“The external insulation project at Viewmount/Kemsley Place in Forfar is costing around £200,000 and we are also undertaking similar projects in Millgate Loan and Stoneycroft, Arbroath.”
Local company Andrew Shepherd & Son Construction has been contracted to carry out the work on blocks 77-79 and 83-91, along with a block on Kemsley Place.
The work is part of an ongoing programme of external insulation and various blocks throughout Angus will undergo the same treatment in coming years.
The insulation is installed by preparing the existing roughcast, before fixing the mineral wool insulation boards to the external property. A stainless steel lathe (wire mesh) is then placed on top with a spreading of concrete.
The procedure is finished with another layer of roughcast. The council also confirmed that existing guttering and fascias will be renewed as part of the process.
Mr Morrison added: “Further projects will follow in other areas of Angus, including Forfar and Brechin, under UHIS during the next year.
“Better insulation is of great benefit to tenants and owner-occupiers in cutting fuel bills and retaining warmth within homes, so this is money well spent.”