Disabled Adults Centre Repairs Significantly Cheaper Than Estimated

The Markhouse Centre might close. Repair costs were first set at £1.2 million. A new report says it would cost £763,000. This Walthamstow center helps disabled adults. Forty-eight people use it regularly. Fifteen have autism, and some have severe learning disabilities.

The high initial cost came from Norse Evolve Ltd. The council partly owns this company; Waltham Forest owns 25% of Evolve, while Norfolk County Council owns the rest. Evolve’s role was to save the council money, handling construction services more easily.

Council members approved closing the center in December. Some councillors questioned the first report and asked for two more cost surveys. Hollis Global made one survey in January, and Spectrum Property Services made another later.

Hollis estimated £763,000 for 15 years, while Spectrum quoted £984,000. Hollis’ first ten-year estimate was near £500,000. Spectrum also reviewed Hollis’ work in their study.

The council says the quotes do not include all fees. Evolve’s consulting fees were about £18,000, and Hollis didn’t mention infrastructure upgrades. These upgrades would cost £195,000 to £215,000. All costs considered, the estimates are now closer.

One report said new boilers cost £100,000. A resident said they got a £9,000 per unit quote, while Hollis quoted £74,500 for boiler work. Spectrum quoted £85,000, but both said boilers cannot be replaced one at a time.

Despite the new lower costs, closure is still advised. The council still thinks closing the center makes sense and wants to use “people-based services” instead. Councillors believe these ensure access to modern support, and closing the center would let them sell the land.

The building is still in bad shape anyway, needing a lot of money for needed repairs. Last week, Conservatives urged keeping it open.

A council member doesn’t want it to sit empty, saying an empty building drains money. She sees value for the Markhouse users.

One local leader believes the decision is unfair. People are mad, he said, because the first report cost was much higher, while other quotes were much lower for the same work.

Some relatives of users have also criticized the plan. One said his brother deserves better treatment, stating it is about lives, not just money. He demands transparency and accountability and has threatened legal action if needed.

Council officers say space exists elsewhere for users. Concerns linger that new places might not meet needs. The final decision happens at a meeting tomorrow.