Welcome to The Paragon

Please scroll down for news about the current redecoration. Questions and comments should be put to your house rep, who will be liaising with the contractors Armour Hart and project managers Kevin Stephenson Associates (details in your hall), or emailed to: paragon@armourhartgroup.com

Hi! Welcome to The Paragon, which art historian Nikolaus Pevsner described as ‘one of the finest Georgian crescents in England’. The buildings date back to 1795, originally backed by land stretching to what is now Blackheath Park. The gardens shrank after World War Two. Badly damaged during the Blitz, The Paragon was restored after the war by architect Michael Searle, adapted into around 85 flats, and listed Grade One by English Heritage on 19th October 1951.

It’s important to know that, because of the Grade One listing, a status shared with the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, The Paragon comes with strict caveats regarding redecoration. Anyone thinking about making any structural changes to their flat is obliged by law to obtain permission before starting any such work. Details about all this are in the Buildings and Lessees/Owners sections.  

The Paragon’s managing agent is Redwood Estates Management Ltd (contact@reml.co.uk). Unpaid volunteer flat-owners make up the Paragon Management Company - which is keen to hear from potential new volunteers.. The PMC has an AGM and usually meets every few months to discuss various issues - such as the exterior redecoration. Under Grade One rules this should happen every five years. Covid interfered with that, however, so although the last redecoration was in 2016, the latest is starting now, spring 2024. The PMC can be contacted via paragon.agm.se3@gmail.com -and please also use this address for any questions or comments.

N E W S

• May 1, 2024

  Now that buildings 10 to 14 are scaffolded, residents should be extra vigilant about security - and aware that Armour Hart carpenters, roofers, and others may be working on all these buildings, at different times, sometimes without notice. All AH employees carry ID.

• April 29, 2024

  At today’s site meeting Armour Hart confirmed that given the magnitude of repairs needed to be made to the brick and stonework and rooves of 13/14 and to the extremely weather-damaged mansard windows at the top of these buildings, in particular, they expect repainting of these houses will start only on 20 May. They estimate that job should run for about 15 work days, until 7 June. Once all snagging jobs have been completed, scaffolding will be removed from 14/13, probably between 17 and 21 June, with all work completed by 24 June. This is well behind their original schedule. Houses 12/11 are in a very much better shape, however, they confirm, as they (like the rest of The Paragon) are not as exposed to the wind and rain - and pollution coming in from central London - and as they have already been scaffolded AH will be getting to work on them asap. It’s repairs which take the most time as these jobs need expert attention, AH point out. AH have three carpenters to make repairs, but when painting starts, a larger team can be assembled more easily. Obviously no painting can be done until all repairs have been effected, otherwise falling dust and debris may spoil the paintwork.

• Scaffolding is due to go up on 10/9 today.

• April 22, 2024

The process of repainting and making essential repairs to the exteriors started on March 4, 2024, and is scheduled to take around six/seven months, ending in October. After a delay caused in part by the roof and window repairs at houses 14/13, the first to be worked on, being more than contractors Armour Hart had expected (partly because these houses are exceptionally exposed to wind and rain), work has finally got underway. The dirty jobs - lead and linings on the rooves of 14/13 etc - are being addressed before any painting starts. Three carpenters will work on window repairs. Armour Hart have agreed to delete three weeks’ scaffolding costs as they accept they had under-estimated and under-prepared for the amount of window repairs needed.

You can contact Armour Hart (whose foreman is Michael Armstrong), and project managers KSA (Kevin Stephenson, Daniel Fowler and Lloyd Edwards) via: Paragon@armourhartgroup.com

• Two houses will be worked on at a time. Houses 13/14 and 11/12 will be followed in due course (May/June?) by houses 9/10 and 7/8; then 5/6 and 3/4; ending with 1/2.

• Scaffolding has to be up before Armour Hart can get a clear view of the work required. AH also need to access each flat and will give at least several days’ notice. If the work they deem advisable exceeds the original spec, leaseholders will have five working days to decide how to proceed – in liaison with KSA, house reps, and, if necessary, PMC.

NB. Essential window and roof repairs, being mandatory, are charged to each house. But changing sash cords, replacing broken glass panes, and unsticking windows previously painted shut, etc, have to be paid for by the relevant leaseholder.

• It is ESSENTIAL that windows are left open the day they are worked on so that they can be painted properly. Windows not left open will be painted shut and left unopenable. AH will give notice of when they will be working on particular windows.

• Residents routinely out all day may want to lend their keys to a neighbour/their house rep to allow access/open windows etc.

• Everyone working for Armour Hart and KSA carries ID. But residents should be extra vigilant about security - especially while their house is scaffolded.

• AH and KSA need five parking spaces for the duration of the redecoration. Restricted spaces means residents should now be displaying their Paragon parking permit. Any resident who has not yet got their permit should please email: Boyntongj@gmail.com

• Some scaffolding will have to be rooted in the flower beds. Bushes and plants obstructing windows and doors etc will have to be cut back by the Paragon gardeners.

• AH and KSA have posted a schedule of work in every hall and will liaise with leaseholders via email, hold weekly updates and can be contacted at: Paragon@armourhartgroup.com

• This page is being updated as work progresses!