SENIOR councillors in Poole are set to give their backing to a £20 million project to refurbish four Old Town tower blocks.

Members of Poole council’s cabinet are being recommended to appoint a contractor to take on the work, known as Project Admiral, and to approve funding at its meeting on Tuesday.

The scheme will see a major renovation of the Drake Court, Grenville Court, Nelson Court and Rodney Court and includes the installation of new sprinkler systems.

No significant refurbishment work has been carried out on the 1960s tower blocks since a three-year maintenance project was completed in 1990.

Structural investigations in 2016 found that the council’s policy of ongoing patch repairs would stop being feasible within five years and that another major modernisation programme was required.

The four blocks contain 249 flats, 215 of which are owned by the council through its arms-length management organisation Poole Housing Partnership (PHP).

Proposals for the refurbishment programme have been drawn-up between PHP and building surveyors Arcus Consulting.

They include roof and window replacements; façade and balcony refitting; electrical works and the installation of new sprinkler systems.

A report to the council’s cabinet ahead of its Tuesday meeting by PHP’s head of asset development, Trevor Roffe, and chief executive, Su Spence, says that the benefits of the scheme “will go far beyond” the tangible changes.

“The delivery of Project Admiral will ensure that the current tower blocks in the Old Town can deliver appropriate social housing for the next 30 years,” it says.

“The work will enhance essential fire safety measures and remove current health and safety defects with the building structure and façade.

“It will deliver desirable flats that will enhance the area as a place to live and that the benefits will go far beyond the physical improvements that will be delivered.”

Three contractors have submitted full tender proposals for the scheme and a preferred option has been recommended, however the name of the firm has yet to be made public by the council.

In order to finance the recommended programme, members of the council’s cabinet, followed by the council are being asked to approve funding of £20.25 million and to sign-off the project.