Council tenants were housed within a large block of 36 flats on Duke Street until the autumn of 2025, with the council seeking to carry out complex repairs to pipework throughout the structure.
Almost a year on, the council’s housing team is still working out the full extent of work needed to bring the block back into use – with a now-deleted post on LinkedIn revealing that it is being advertised as a filming location to generate income in the meantime.
Tender documents have now revealed that the council is paying £36,960 for a private security firm to guard the site – a contract which is expected to run until the spring of next year.
The documents – published on a central government website – stated that the council agreed the contract on June 25 with W4G Fire & Security Ltd, which is based on the Sowton industrial estate in Exeter.
The contract does not specify the nature of the security being provided beyond the “erection of fencing”, with the properties currently being cordoned off from the general public with similar fencing employed on the North Taunton Woolaway regeneration scheme.
The contract runs from June 26, 2026 until March 31, 2027 – suggesting that any repairs to the building could be carried out after this date (assuming that the contract is not extended).
A spokesperson for the council said: “The Duke Street flats were affected by serious problems with concealed pipework, which could not be repaired while residents remained in occupation and our priority was their safety.
“As a result, residents were provided with temporary alternative accommodation between late-summer and December 2025.
“We are continuing to assess the full extent of works required and considering whether additional repairs and improvements should also be carried out while the building is vacant.
“The intention remains to understand the best long-term solution for the block and its residents.
“We remain committed to keeping residents informed about progress on the Duke Street project and will continue to update them as plans develop.”
Future updates on the Duke Street project are likely to come before the council’s tenants strategic group, which meets once a month.
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